The harmony of the Gospels, in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings…

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.