N00187:736
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]
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.
THE first act to be observed is, the Executioners parting his Garments before his face, in his sight casting Lots upon his vesture, Joh. 19.23, 24 Then the soldiers when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments (and made four parts, to every soldier a part) and also his coat: Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rent it, but cast lots for it whose it shall be: that the Scripture might be fulfilled which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the Soldiers did.
THE first act to be observed is, the Executioners parting his Garments before his face, in his sight casting Lots upon his vesture, Ioh. 19.23, 24 Then the souldiers when they had crucified Iesus, took his garments (and made four parts, to every souldier a part) and also his coat: Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rent it, but cast lots for it whose it shall be: that the Scripture might be fullfilled which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the Souldiers did.
All the Evangelists do mention this fact, John doth a little amplify it, therefore I take his words. The actors were those soldiers that were his executioners. It was done in his fight, and may well be numbered among the acts of their contempt which they did to grieve and afflict him. It is an eminent accomplishment of a Prophecy, Psal. 2•.18. which is no small confirmation of the faith of the Church, that he is the Messiah of whom David prophesied. And to make evident to our faith, the sovereign Government of God over all men, and the signal care the Lord had over Jesus Christ, and how he ordered every thing that was done unto him; and that all things came to pass according to the holy and wise counsel of God.
All the Evangelists doe mention this fact, Iohn doth a little amplifie it, therefore I take his words. The actors were those souldiers that were his executioners. It was done in his fight, and may well be numbred among the acts of their contempt which they did to grieve and afflict him. It is an eminent accompl•shment of a Prophesie, Psal. 2•.18. which is no small confirmation of the faith of the Church, that he is the Messiah of whom David prophesied. And to make evident to our faith, the sovereign Goverment of God over all men, and the signal care the Lord had over Iesus Christ, and how he ordered every thing that was done unto him; and that all things came to pass according to the holy and wise councel of God.
But the principal History in this Section, is to show the wicked behaviour of the Jews, all this dark time of Jesus Christ, his hanging on the Cross. The miracu-darkness should have terrified and calmed them, but it was not so. All sorts of them did mock, flout, insult, blaspheme, Matthew, Mark and Luke do record it, and show what every sort said, and did.
But the principal History in this Section, is to shew the wicked behaviour of the Jews, all this dark time of Jesus Christ, his hanging on the Cross. The miracu-darkness should have terrified and calmed them, but it was not so. All sorts of them did mock, flout, insult, blaspheme, Mathew, Mark and Luke do record it, and shew what every sort said, and did.
1. The common people that passed by, and walked about, and stood beholders, Math. 27.39, 40. and they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, thou that destroyest the Temple, and buildest it again in three days, save thy self, if thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross. The manner of their upbraiding, showeth us much unbelief and contempt, as in a few words and gestures can be expressed. The matter of their upbraiding was an ignorant reflection upon a false supposition. If they had understood that the body of Jesus was typified by the Temples, and that though they now destroy that body of his, yet on the third day it shall rise again, had they I say, understood this, or had patience to suppress this flout till the third day, they would have seen the empty folly of it, or might have seen it. The other flout, if thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross. They tempt the Lord as the Devil did, Math. 4.3. they would have him prove himself to be the Son of God by such an act as they would prescribe. He had sufficiently, yea, abundantly proved himself to be the Son of God, by such proofs as the wisdom of God saw fit, but all that would not serve their turn, they believed not, therefore they would prescribe a sign, and that was to come down off the Cross, ⟨p. 115⟩& not suffer death, a devilish motion and ignorant, had Jesus come down from the cross and not suffered death, the whole work of the salvation of man had been overthrown. So vain, carnal, ignorant, and devilish were they in their mockings of our Lord Jesus upon the Cross.
1. The common people that passed by, and walked about, and stood beholders, Math. 27.39, 40. and they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, thou that destroyest the Temple, and buildest it again in three dayes, save thy self, if thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross. The manner of their upbraiding, sheweth us much unbelief and contempt, as in a few words and gestures can be expressed. The matter of their upbraiding was an ignorant reflection upon a false supposition. If they had understood that the body of Iesus was typified by the Temples, and that though they now destroy that body of his, yet on the third day it shall rise again, had they I say, understood this, or had patience to suppress this flout till the third day, they would have seen the empty folly of it, or might have seen it. The other flout, if thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross. They tempt the Lord as the Devil did,
2. The second sort of mockers were the chief Priests, Scribes, and Chieftains among them, their mockeries are recorded also, Math. 27.41, 42, 43. likewise also the chief Priests mocking him, with the Scribes and Elders, said, he saved others, himself he cannot save, if he be the King of the Jews let him now come down from the Cross, and we will believe him. he trusted in God, let him deliver him now if he will have him, for he said, I am the Son of God. These upbraidings are deeper, and more blasphemous, yet ignorant and over hasty gloryings over him.
1. It is a great boast, that though he had saved others many ways, out of many perils, and out of the hands of Devils, yet he was not able to save himself out of their hands, O who are you great Grandees! out of whose hands Jesus Christ cannot deliver himself? alas for you, had you suppressed this boast but till the morning after your Sabbath, you might have seen the vanity thereof, and that he was able to deliver himself out of your hands, and greater then yours also, even out of the hands of death and Devils too.
1. It is a great boast, that though he had saved others many wayes, out of many perils, and out of the hands of Devils, yet he was not able to save himself out of their hands, O who are you great Grandees! out of whose hands Jesus Christ cannot deliver himself? alas for you, had you suppressed this boast but till the morning after your Sabbath, you might have seen the vanity thereof, and that he was able to deliver himself out of your hands, and greater then yours also, even out of the hands of death and Devils too.
2. Jesus had manifested himself to be the Messiah, the King of Israel, by divine and infallible proofs, but you would not believe, but you can prescribe to Jesus Christ a better way to prove himself to be the King and Saviour of Israel, and that is by coming down off the Cross, and by that proof you would believe. Proud man will not be directed by God, unless man may prescribe to God the way, they will not believe; in their own way they will. Ah weak and proud dust! Rom. 11.34, 35. who hath known the mind of the Lord, who hath been his Counsellor? who hath first given unto him, and it shall be recompensed to him? Faith is the operation of God not of man, Faith is not in mans power to create, nor are the means of begetting it in the hands of man. These men show what utter strangers they were to faith.
2. Jesus had manifested himself to be the Messiah, the King of Israel, by divine and infallible proofs, but you would not believe, but you can prescribe to Jesus Christ a better way to prove himself to be the King and Saviour of Israel, and that is by coming down off the Cross, and by that proof you would believe. Proud man will not be directed by God, unless man may prescribe to God the way, they will not believe; in their own way they will. Ah weak and proud dust! Rom. 11.34, 35. who hath known the mind of the Lord, who hath been his Counsellour? who hath first given unto him, and it shall be recompenced to him? Faith is the operation of God not of man, Faith is not in mans power to create, nor are the means of begetting it in the hands of man. These men shew what utter strangers they were to faith.
3. They say, he trusted in God, and said, I am the Son of God, let God take him, now if he will have him. This is to blaspheme not only the Son of God, but also the Father. Do you think that you have him so fast in your hands, that God cannot deliver him out of your hands, had you patience to have suppressed this blasphemy but till the morning of the first day, you might have been prevented of this sin, for you might have seen him mightily proved to be the Son of God by his Resurrection, and that God hath power to deliver him out of your hands, and greater then yours too.
3. The third sort of mockers were the Soldiers, Luk. 23.36, 37. the Soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, if thou be the King of Israel save thy self. Touching their giving him vinegar, we see by this, it was no act of favour, but such as was accompanied with mocks, of this more hereafter. Little did these men know that his dying upon the Cross was the way appointed by God for the salvation both of Jew and Gentile.
3. The third sort of mockers were the Souldiers, Luk. 23.36, 37. the Souldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, if thou be the King of Israel save thy self. Touching their giving him vineger, we see by this, it was no act of favour, but such as was accompanied with mocks, of this more hereafter. Little did these men know that his dying upon the Cross was the way appointed by God for the salvation both of Jew and Gentile.
4. The fourth and last sort of mockers instanced in the Text, were the Thieves, Math. 27.44. but of this part of the History we have already spoken.
4. The fourth and last sort of mockers instanced in the Text, were the Theevs, Math. 27.44. but of this part of the History we have already spoken.
The whole life of Jesus Christ was a suffering life, the first and the last parts of his time in this world were fullest of sufferings. the last and greatest of his sufferings were on the Cross, Phil. 2.8. obedient to the death, even death upon the Cross, here all his bitter sufferings met upon him, upon the Cross he fulfilled to answer and satisfy all that was to be said by the Law against us, Col. 2.14, 15. blotting out the hand writing of Ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his Cross, and having spoiled Principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in at, viz, in the work that he did accomplish on the Cross, in giving full satisfaction to the Law. The full stream of his sufferings fell on him, on the Cross. Jesus Christ did both suffer and agonize before the Cross, as appeareth, Luk. 12.50. I have a Baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished, Joh. 12.20. now is my Soul troubled, in the garden he had a great Soul Agon, Luk. 22.44. his body was not yet in a suffering condition, only by way of sympathy with his agonizing Soul, which so wrought on him as that he sweat drops like blood. But on the Cross all kind of sufferings met together; the whole stream of wrath against sin fell upon him, and he was under it altogether.
THe whole life of Jesus Christ was a suffering life, the first and the last parts of his time in this world were fullest of sufferings. the last and greatest of his sufferings were on the Cross, Phil. 2.8. obedient to the death, even death upon the Cross, here all his bitter sufferings met upon him, upon the Cross he fulfilled to answer and satisfie all that was to be said by the Law against us, Col. 2.14, 15. blotting out the hand writing of Ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his Cross, and having spoyled Principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, tryumphing over them in at, viz, in the work that he did accomplish on the Cross, in giving full satisfaction to the Law. The full stream of his sufferings fell on him, on the Cross. Jesus Christ did both suffer and agonize before the Cross, as appeareth,
1 His body suffered all those cruel torments & wrackings before mentioned. 2. His mind suffered all the grief they could afflict him withal, by mocks, reproaches, blasphemies. 3. His Soul suffered the full cup of the Justice of the Law, and desert of sin.
His great sufferings upon the Cross, he underwent in his near three hours silence, for after he had forgiven his persecutors, and provided for the comfort of his widow mother, and took care of the penitent Thief, he did with holy patience and silence suffer all that fell upon him until the ninth hour, and then spake such words as expressed what he was doing and suffering all this while.
His great sufferings upon the Cross, he underwent in his near three hours silence, for after he had forgiven his persecu••rs, and provided for the comfort of his widdow mother, and took care of the penitent Thief, he did with holy patience and silence suffer all that fell upon him until the ninth hour, and then spake such words as expressed what he was doing and suffering all this while.
The sense of cruel pain that his body was in all this while may in a small measure be apprehended by what hath been said in the particular Tortures.
The sufferings of his mind by the reproaches, mocks, blasphemies, taunts, which he heard and saw all this while of his silence, these were a bitter part of his suffering as it is expressed in the Prophesy, Psal. 69.20. reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness, and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none, & comforters but found none, vinegar and gall was all that the creatures afford him, ver. 21. The causes of this affliction of his mind are expressed, ver. 19. by three words, reproach, shame and dishonour, which are said to have this effect upon him, reproach hath broken my heart, an heart wound is deeper and more terrible then a bodily wound, ungrateful men pierced and wounded his heart, when he was dying for them. O vile ingratitude, O infinite patience and pity! the tongues of men did pierce Jesus Christ to the heart, as he hung upon the Cross, they so filled his heart with heaviness, that there was no room for comfort. When he looked for some to pity, and bemoan him, or help him, but there was none that had power to help him, his mother and John stood by, and many more no doubt, but alas they could not help him, he trade the wine press alone, Isai. 63.3.
The sufferings of his mind by the reproaches, mocks, blasphemies, taunts, which he heard and saw all this while of his silence, these were a bitter part of his suffering as it is expressed in the Prophesy, Psal. 69.20. reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness, and I looked for some to take pitty, but there was none, & comforters but found none, vineger and gall was all that the creatures afford him, ver. 21. The causes of this affliction of his mind are expressed, ver. 19. by three words, reproach, shame and dishonour, which are said to have this effect upon him, reproach hath broken my heart, an heart wound is deeper and more terrible then a bodily wound, ungrateful men pierced and wounded his heart, when he was dying for them. O vile ingratitude, O infinite patience and pitty! the tongues of men did pierce Jesus Christ to the heart, as he hung upon the Cross, they so filled his heart with heaviness, that there was no room for comfort. When he looked for some to pitty, and bemoan him, or help him, but there was none that had power to help him, his mother and John stood by, and many more no doubt, but alas they could not help him, he trade the wine press alone,
