and SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, and his APOSTLES, &c. 271 :7C`iVsa0itA35te7tgigffi-W-in')WtAgt'zjij' C H A P T E R A Roman Soldier thru'is his Spear into our to Pilate, and begs of BY the law of Mofes, it was exprefsly forbidden that the bodies of thofe who were hanged Mould remainall night on the tree. In conformityto this law, and hecaufe the Sabbath was at hand, the Jews begged the governor, that the legs of the three per- fons crucified might be broken, to haften their death. To this requefl Pilate readily confented ; and accordingly gave the ne- ceffary orders to the foldiers to put it in execution : but on perceiving that Jesus was already dead, the foldiers-did not give themfelves the trouble ofbreaking his legs, as they had done thole of the two male faaors that were crucified with him. One of them, however, either out ofwantonnefs or cruelty, thruil a fpear into his fide, and out of the wound flowed blood and water. Some fuppofe that the fpear reached his heart; but however that be, it is certain, from the water which iffued from thewound, that he pierced the pericardium ; and con fequently muff have killed him, had he not before been deprived of life. It was of the greateft importance to man- kind that this wound was given, for it abundantly demonflrated the truth of our Saviours death, and confequently prevent- ed all objeaions, that the enemies to our holy faith would otherwife have raifed againfl it. The evangelift adds, that the legs of our great Redeemer were not bro- ken, but his fide; pierced, that two parti- cular prophecies might be fulfilled: A bone ofhim'hall not be broken; and, They 'hall XXXIX. Saviour's Side : Jofeph ofArinzathea comes hint the Body of JEsus. look on himwhom theyhave pierced, and be convinced of the horrid impiety of the deed, as many of them afterwards were, on the preaching of Peter. There was a perfon amongil the difciples of the bleffed JESUS, called Jofeph of Ari- mathea; he was equally remarkable for his birth, fortune, and office. This man, who was not to be intimidated by the malice of his countrymen, went boldly to Pilate, and begged the body of his great Mailer : he had indeed nothing to fear from the Ro- mangovernor, who, during the whole courfe ofour Saviour's trial, had fhewn the greateft inclination to releafe him ; but he had rea- 1 fors to apprehend, that this anion might draw upon him the malice of the rulers of the Jews, who had taken fuels great pains to get their Meffiah crucified. The great re- gard, however, he had for the remains of his Matter, made him defpife the malice of the Jews, being perfuaded that Omnipo- tence would defend him, and cover his enemies with fhame and confufion : and he well knew, that if no friend procured a grant of the body, it would be ignomini- ,oufly call out amongfl the executed male- faftors, and perhaps be expofed to many indigui,ties. The governor was at firff furprifedat the requeff of Jofeph, thinking it highly im- probable that he Mould be dead in fo fhort a time. He had indeed given orders for the foldiers to break die legs of, the cruci- fied portons ; but he knew it was not uncommon
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