Chap. 2. Se& 7 · Hook IV. 377 The caufe of this darknef; is diverfly rendered by feveral Authors; fome. think that . . the Stm by Divine power withdrew andheld back_ its bemns. Others fay, that ih: obfwn- H.er.~nMJf. ty IVM carefedby fome thick_ clods which were mirttcu/oujly prodnqed m the mr,_ andfp~ead b1,ig. rr;E/, >'>• themfe/ves over all the earth. Others fay, that thtSdarkpefs WM by awonderful tnterpo- '" !Yhllh. pojition of the Moon, which at that time \V;U at full, bmby a n;tracle mterpofed zt {elf Dionif. Epijl. betwixt the Earth and Sun. Whatfoever was the caufe, It continued for the fpace of 7· ad Poliwrhree hours as dark as the darkefr winters night. P'""· 2. About three (which the Jews call the ninth hour) the Sun now beginning to receive his light, Je(m cryed with P.lo11d voice Eli, Eli, Lamafabachthani, my God, my ~ht. 2 7 • 46. God, why haft thore forfaktn me ?--.And then, that the S<ripttzres might be fulfilled, John '9· ,g, he faidlthirft.--.Andn•hen he lad received the vinegar, he faid it if Jinijhed.-- l 0 • .Andat laftcrying withaloud voice, he faid, Fatherintothybands Jcommendmy Spirit, Luke 2 3· 4 6 • and having faidthll!, he gdve t<p :heghoft. I cannot ftay_on thefe fevcn words of C~1rifr which he uttered on the crofs; h1s words were ever gracwus, but never more graciOus than at this rime; we cannot find in all the Books and Writings of m<n, in ail the Annals and Records of rime, either fuch fufferings, or fuch fayiflgs, as were thefe lafr words and wounds, fayings and fulferings of Jefus. Cbri fr.---.---.Andhaving John•9·30· faidthm, hegavellptheghojl. Oras (ohn relares lt, H ebowedi?M head, andgavenp the ghoft: He bowed, not becaufe he was dead, but firft he bowed, and then dyed; the meaning is, he dyed willingly without confrraint, cheerfally without murmur; what a wonder is this? life it felf gives up his life, and death it felf dyes by his death; J~- fus Chrifr who is the Author of life, the God of life, !ayes down bis life for us; and death it felf Iyes for ever miled to that bloody crofs in the llead of Jefu; Chrift. And now we may fuppofe him at the gates of Paradife, calling with his !aft word> ro have them opened, thattheKingof glory might come in. · 3. About four in the afternoon he was pierced with a fpear, and there iffued out of his fide both blood and water. And one of the Souldier' with a (pear piercedhu fide, and forthwith camethereout bloodandwarer. How truly may we_(ayof the Souldierg, that John19; H after all h~ (uffe;ings t?cy h~ve added wo~nds ? they ~nd lu'!l dead, and yet they will ~carce beheve It, until w1th a fpear they have fearch d for hfe at the well-head it felf, evenattheheart of Chrift : And forthwith therecameoretbloodandwater; this was the Fountain of both Sacraments, the Fountain of all our happin-efs, The Fo11main opened Z!Ch. 13. •· to the houfe of David, and toth~ inhabitants of Jmefalemfor jinanelfor t<nclemmefs. There are three that bear wirnefs on earth ( faith iohn ) the Spirit, andthe Water, and 1John>· 8. the Blood. Out of the fide of Chrifr being now dead; their iffues water and blo•d. fignifying that he is both our juftificarion, and fam'l:ilication. Phyfitians tell us, tha~ about the heart there is afilm or skin like unto a purfe, wherein is contained dear water to cool the heat of the heart, and therefore very probable iris, that, that very skin (or pericardium) was pierced through with the heart, and thence came out thofe fireams of blood and water.--0 gates of Heaven! 0 windows of Paradife! 0 Palace of refuge I 0 Tower of ftrength ! 0 SanEiuary of the Jufl! 0 jlourijhing bed of the Spoufe of Solomon .' methink.J I fee water and blood mnning out of hu fide more fre.Jhty, than thofe Jf•lden Jlreams which ran out of the garden of Eden, and watered the whole world. Here •f I could llay I might lengthen my Doc:'hine during my life. oh it were good to be here- itwerealargefield, andableffedfubject. ' 4: About five (which the J ~ws call the eleventh, and the lafi hour of the day ) Chnfr was taken down, and buned by {ofeph and Nicodemm. Bur enough! I muft nor wear out your ~atience altogether. Thus:ar we have prop~undedthebleffed object of Chrill's fuffering and dying for us • our next work IS ro d1rect you (as formerly) in the art or myftery, hQW you are to look..Jznto him ip this refpcct. ' CHAP.
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