Ver,19. the 17th Chapter of St. JO H 1V. X87 But more diftin&ly let us confider the greatnef of his Sufferings; his willingnefs td endure them. ( I.) The greatnefs of his Sufferings. His Paffions, take them in the very Letter, Were fore; but they were heightned by the delicacy of his Temper : never any Mari fuffered as he did, becaufe never fuch a Man. A blow on the Head is Coon felt, be- caufe it is a principal Member, and fo more fenfible than other parts of the Body. A Slave is not fo fenfible of Blows and Stripes, as a Nobleman of a tender and delicate Conflitution. Our Saviour Chrift was of a more delicate Conftitution than any other; his Body was immediately framed by the Spirit in the Virgin's Womb ; Lau- rence on the Gridiron, Stephen when (toned, could not be fo fenfible as Chrift on the Crofs. None of the Martyrs fuffered what he did. Chrift had a particular knowledg of all Sins committed in the World, pall, prefenr, and to come, and a particular for - row for them ; which was the greater, by how much the more he prized the Honour of God : His Love towards him was infinite, his hatred to Sin infinite, his apprehen- fion of his Father's Diiplealure clear, all which made his Soul heavy to the Death. Out Sins were more burdenfome to him, than his own Wounds. No Man's Under(landing is fo great, as to apprehend what Chrift felt; Chrift himCelf can only give us an ac- count of the greatnefs of his Sufferings. David confeffed, that his Sins were more than the Hairs upon his Head : yet he faith, cleanfe me from fecret Sins ; implying, many had efcaped his notice and knowledg. How great was the Burden of Chrift, that was the Lamb, bearing the Sins of the whole World ? Neither did Chrift fuffer Pains only for Sins, but to make a purchare of Spiritual Bleffings ; and yet the price excwded the value of that which was bought. (a.) His willingnefs to fuffer for us. Chrift was fo let upon his Paffón, that he cal- led `Peter, Satan, for contradihing it ; Mat. 16.23. Get thee behind me, Satan, for thon art an offence to me. When Jonah Caw the Storm, he raid, Gaff me into the Sea ; this Storm was raifed for his own fake : but when Chrift law the mifery of Mankind, he laid, Let it come on me ; We railed the Storm, Chrift was call in to allay it, : As if a Prince palling by an Execution, fhould take the Malefa&or's Chains, and fuffer in his Read. Chrift bore our Sorrows, he would have this Work in no other Hands but his owne His earner nets to partake of the Taft Paffover, theweth his willingnefs ; he had fuch a elelre to fee his Body on the Crofs, that Judas feemed too flow, not diligent enough; Chrift faith, Sohn. 13.27. That thou doff, do quickly : It is not an Approba= tion of his Sin, but a Teftimony of his Love; every day feems long. If Chrift had been to fuffer fo much for every Man, as he did for all Mankind, he would have done it ; there wanted but a Precept, there wanted not Love; his Heart was much beyond his Sufferings, as the Wiridows of the Temple were greater and more open within than without, i Kings 6.4. If Paul, that had but a drop of Grace, could miffs him( f ac+ curled from Chrift, for his Brethren, his Kindred according to the Flefb, Rom. 9. 3. How. much more willing was Chrift ? Surely then we ( hould as readily confecrate our (elves to his Service. Chrift faith, Lo, 1 come to do thy Will, O God, Heb. -ro. 9. and it be- cometh every Chrittian to make an unbounded refignation of himfelf to God. Ads g. 6. Lord, what wauldit thou have me to do 2 Secondly ; The A&, &yt& s; 1 fanaify. Things are Paid in scripture to be fan&ified, when they are let apart, and fitted, and prepared for Come holy Ufe. r. As it lignifies to feparate, or let apart, from a common to a holy Ufe ; as the Sa- crifices under the Law were feparated and chofen out of the Flock or Herd, the bell and the faireff, Cuch as were without fpot and blemifh, and then defigned for this holy Ufe of being an Offering to God : So was Chrift feparated for this ufe, to be the great Sin-offering, or Sacrifice of Atonement for the whole_Congregation. I Pet. r. rg; 20. re were redeemed with the precious Blood of Chrift as of a Lamb without blemifh, and without fpot. When was Chrift fo Can &ified ? He did fan&ify himfelf, when he accepted the Conditions of the Covenant of Redemption, Ifa. 53, to, I I, t2. lAnd vifibly at his Baptifm, he did prefent himfelf among Sinners as our Surety, and offer himfelf to the Father to .pay our Ranfom, which God accepted, for he declared himfelf well- leafed with Chrift, as ftanding in our room. Mat. 3. 57. Lo, a Voice from Heaven; fading, This is my beloved Son, in whom 1 am well-pleafed: Ordinary.Baptifm is a Dedi- cation to God ; So Chriffs Baptifm was a Dedication of himfelf, to the recovering of the loft World to God. And then a little before his Death, in this Prayer, I fanaifj my Pelf: Afterwards in bis Agonies, Not my Will, but thine be done: At his Death he e M
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