The day of salvation, or, A homily upon the bloody sacrifice of Christ, or his death and passion written, and intended onely for private meditation of a most noble and vertuous lady, on Good-Friday last, but since thought worthy the publique view / by Anthony Stafford ...

The day of salvation, or, A homily upon the bloody sacrifice of Christ, or his death and passion written, and intended onely for private meditation of a most noble and vertuous lady, on Good-Friday last, but since thought worthy the publique view / by Anthony Stafford ...

Table of contents

Title page

TO THE MOST Happy Mistresse of all imaginable Graces▪ which beautifie and ennoble both Body and Mind, the Lady THEOPHILA COKE.

To the Peninent Reader.

THE DAY OF SALVATION▪ OR A HOMILY UPON the Bloody Sacrifice of Christ, or his Death and PASSION.

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THE DAY OF SALVATION. OR, A HOMILY UPON the bloody Sacrifice of CHRIST, or his Death and Passion.

Written, and intended onely for private Meditation of a most Noble and Vertuous Lady, on Good-Friday last, but since thought worthy the publique view.

By Anthony Stafford Gent.

Printed at London by N. and I Ok [...]s▪ for Daniel Frere at the Red Bull in Little Brittaine, 1635.

TO THE MOST Happy Mistresse of all imaginable Graces▪ which beautifie and ennoble both Body and Mind, the Lady THEOPHILA COKE.

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Madame.

THis censorious Age wants not many who judge of Bookes by their Vollume, and such will thinke the Dedication of this short Discourse rather [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] a Disparagement then an Honour to your Ladiship, not confidering the Dignity of the Contents, nor the limits of a Homily. The curiosity of this their Voluminous ignorance, I shall very shortly satisfie by placing your Ladiships name before a farre greater Worke; which (Heaven asststing) may Eternize You and it selfe. In the meane time, to the more knowing, this Treatise will appeare as great in Value as small in [Page] Bulke. The Subject of it is the Obiect of our faith, and the Worker of our Redemption, Christ Iesus, without whose meritorious Oblation man were more miserable then the Beasts themselves, or the very stones he treads on, to whom there is no paine after this Life, no Hell awarded. Had not He endured unexpressable torments on the Crosse, wee had never beene pertakers of the inconceiveable ioyes in Heaven. It is not with [Page] us Christians, as with the Heathen; for the rifing of the Sunne they adore brings them light, but the setting of the Sunne we worship gives us an Eternall Day. This bitter Passion of his, that wee might remember hee instituted his last Supper; the principall time of whose Celebration is now at hand. You have a Soule cleare, and prepar'd to entertayne this Royall Guest, in whom Maiesty, and Humility gave each other [Page] the first kisse. You have the peace of Conscience farre above that of Nations, which commonly is made upon necessity, and broken upon advantage, whereas this▪ is fixt (like the great Infuser of it) and transcends all humane happinesse whatsoever. You have a Charity ready to embrace all that meere it, and to pardon all that provoke it, You are friends with all, and surely none Enemies to you. If any such there [Page] are, they can be no other then the Windfalls of Nature, such as neither Vertue, nor any of her generous Brood will stoope to gather. You have no crying Vices that call upon GOD for Vengeance, but crying Vertues you have many, which call upon Men for applanse & admiration. These perfections of yours, Madame, will receive, if no encrease, certainly no diminution by the pervsall of this sad Discourse, [Page] which will infect you with sorrow; but such a noble one, as will well become you, and render you amiable in the eyes of your Redeemer. Hee long preserve your Ladiship on earth, a glory to your Sexe, Nane, and Nation, and give You a seate in Heaven next your most excellent Mother, the very imputation of whose pious and Heroicke actions is able to restore luster to a Family as long lost to Honour, [Page] & Vertue as Yours hath enjoyed their glorious Shine. And this prayer shall be as extensive as the life of

Madam,

Your Ladiships most humble loyall servant, Anthony Stafford.

To the Peninent Reader.

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SOme more accute then modest, affirme that the Redemption of the World is a more powerfull worke then the Creation: a holy Reverence forbids me to compare such Transcendents, but upon the warrant of Truth, I dare maintayne that man for [Page] whose use and service all things visible are made without this last, saving oblation of our Saviour had beene the most wretched of all Creatures. GOD at first fram'd him of Earth, and Created him after his owne Image, but he ungratful, disobedient; proud, arrogant, ambitious, aspiring to be like his Maker in Knowledge, became most like the Divill his seducer in wickednesse.

In this desperate Estate [Page] was Man, damn'd ere borne, and once conceived was no other then a vile froth, or a coagulation of impure blood, which turn'd into flesh, nurs'd, and brought up with never so great care becomes at length the food of Wormes. He being such, perswaded the Lord of Heaven and Earth (in whose sight the very Starres themselves are darke and impure) to take upon him what in man was so abject, the image of his [Page] humanity. Which when hee had assumed hee came into the World, and sought in vaine for a place of Repose, and finding none amongst men, hee tooke up his lodging with the beasts. Yet doubted hee not, but man upon a more familiar conversation with him, would be wonne by his all saving Doctrine, his infinite benefits, and his stupendious miracles at least gently, if not R [...]ally to receive him. Wherefore hee appl [...]e [...] [Page] himselfe wholly to gayne his affection, with whose Nature he was in love so many thousand yeares before hee tooke it on him, himselfe confessing: His delight to be amongst the Sonnes of men. All his actions tended to the contentment of this his beloved. If any Widow bewailed her only sonne, if any sister her brother, he restored life to both. Where bread was wanting his miracle suffic'd. Hee did not abhorre the company of Publicans [Page] and Sinners. This Heavenly Physition stood alwayes environ'd with these internall Lepers, whose perfect cure hee made his first care. At length when he did confidently (as wel he might) expect at least thanks for these his innumerable Graces and Favours, he found nothing lesse. When with a longing thirst he lookt for Grapes from his Vineyard, she produc'd him nothing but Thornes, with which (as full of scorne, as void [Page] of pitty) she crown'd and pierc'd his sacred head.

To expresse my selfe more clearely; hee dyed by them whose conversion hee had labour'd living, and whose Salvation hee prayed for dying. This inhumane Act of theirs, though in it selfe most horrid and abhominable; yet to us was infinitely advantagious; for by this his plenary redemption, the defect of our satisfaction is supplied.

[Page]Yet without application of this Divine Remedy to our infected Soules, they will still retayn their malignity. For as hee who hath heard of Sugar, yet hath never tasted it, knowes the name of Sugar, but of the sweetenesse and Vertue hee is vtterly ignorant: So hee who onely heares and knowes there is a Christ, but doth not by Faith rellish his meritorious sufferings, hee may be well acquainted with the name of Christ, but hee is a [Page] stranger to his merits and Passion. Let us not deceive our selves, my condoling Reader, through any vayne hope of enioying a blessed and eternal life by any other way: for neither by the Academy new or old, nor by the curious disputes ofThe Schoole of Aristotle▪ neere Athens. Lyceum, nor by any other meanes in Heauen, or on Earth, within our selves by the observation of the Law, nor without us by the deserts of other holy men, or Angell are wee [Page] saved, but▪ by the Voluntary shedding of his most precious blood. Let us not therefore loose the interest wee have, in his Crucifixion, but make it appeare by the purity and sobriety of our lives, how much wee resent the bitternesse of his Death.

Though wee are in the World, yet let us shewe we are not of it, & though in the flesh, yet freed from his Empire and power; let us follow this our Triumphant Redeemer, [Page] though not in Body, yet in Soule, in longing, and affectionate Vowes and Wishes, and on the wings of Contemplation flye to his Crosse. There let us lay downe all our vncleane, lustfull, and revengefull thoughts, our Pride and fond opinion of Science, the vanity and ryot of our youth, the Avarice and morosity of our Age, together with the whole swarme of our infirmities.

Neyther let us only lay them downe, but with [Page] Knees cleaving to the Earth, with Eyes fixed on Heaven, with sighs and groanes fetcht from the very center of our penitent hearts invoke him to bury them so deepe in his oblivion, that they never rise up in iudgement agaynst us.

Amen Lord Iesus, Amen, Amen.

THE DAY OF SALVATION▪ OR A HOMILY UPON the Bloody Sacrifice of Christ, or his Death and PASSION.

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THis Day, this saddest of dayes, our Sweetest Saviour, (who not [Page] only tooke upon him our Nature, but to rescue it also out off the iawes of Death and Hel) by those to whom, and for whose cause hee came, whom before he had saluted by his Embassadours, and warned of his approach (Earth being strucken with trembling, and Heaven with blindnesse) was brought [Page] to a most execrable end. The sad remembrance whereof rather requires the teares of the faithfull, then the Eloquence of Oratours: wherfore I must leave mine eyes to deliver that which my Pen cannot. A holy Extasie is heere more seemly, then a curious Inquisition; the Passion of Christ being [Page] as inexplicable as his Generation, which all daring spirits hitherto haue failed to explain, though not their own insolent ignorance in the bold attempt. We may aswell conceive how Jesus upon the Crosse had the particuler Id [...]as in his minde of all those for whom he was to suffer, as how he endured the extreamity [Page] of those torments. Whosoever will rivet his soule into the languishing life of this blessed one, shall finde it nought else but an extended torture. Whether the Epistle of Lentulus to the Senate of Rome bee Authenticke or no, I know [...] not; sure I am, many things in it are consonant to truth; [Page] and this particular especially, that this deare Master of ours was never seene to laugh, but to weep often.

Alas, at what should hee laugh? to see his owne people not owne him, eyther for their lawfull King, or potent Redeemer? needes must hee be afflicted for the ingratitude of [Page] their hearts, but more for the danger of their Soules: for hardly would they be induced to undergoe the Spirituall yoake, that would not put on the Temporall.

Should hee laugh at his Poverty, or its more miserable concommitant derision? Should hee laugh at Hunger, his Thirst, his [Page] Nakednesse, and that no Roofe vouchsafed him covering, save his owne heavenly Arch? Should hee laugh at the persecution of his Friends, and his seperation from them, a divorce of all other (next to that of Soule and Body) the most cruell, especially if you wel consider the Queene and glory of [Page] her Sexe, his blessed Mother to have beene one of them? or should hee laugh to have his sacred Eares scorcht with horrid blasphemy against Himselfe and his Almighty Father? Well might hee be stiled the Man of Griefes, who exiled from his owne heavenly inconceiv [...]able ioyes, could never conceive what [Page] an earthly ioy meant: Scarce had this Holy Professor vented his All-saving Doctrine, but destruction dog'd him at the heeles, and Malice disgorg'd upon him all her base Epithets, as seducing, impious, lunaticke, blasphemous; nay, some of her venemous brood not onely call'd, but held him [Page] a divell, and a Tormentor, to whom he he had demonstrated the infallible signes of a God, and the tender affection of a Saviour.

O strange confusion, caused by a stranger stupidity! were ever soules but these, so purblinde, as to take the Creatour of Light for the Prince of [Page] darkenesse? never yet was there such an obstinate ignorance heard of, as to thinke that Vice and Vertue can blend. They could not but discover all the never erring markes of goodnesse and truth in his lookes, his words & actions; and could these brutes imagine that Piety and Impiety, Truth and Falsehood [Page] can lodge under the same Roofe? that God can out of stones raise up Children unto Abraham wee reade, and gladly beleeve; but here we most unwillingly finde, that (by his Divine permission) the divell is able to turne men into stones. A happy Meditation, was it of the truely humiliated St. Francis, [Page] who seeing a poore single Lambe amongst many Goates, said to his Companion, see'st thou that solitary Lambe? iust so did our dearest Messias walke amongst the Pharises. When Truth had bin a long time banish't this lower world shee came swimming in to it againe in a Crimson, flood of this meek [...] one, [Page] and his Martyrs: who as hee was more pure and immaculate: so was he likewise more miserable then any of his Types. Never did halfe a span of life containe so many miseries, during his conversation heere below, he had nothing without him that could make him amiable, being contemned [Page] in his owne person, in his Disciples, and followers. Hee was of the blood Royall, indeed; but then when the glory of it was quite eclipsed. Amongst the Israelites, but at a time when they were Captived to the Romans: Borne of a Virgin, but so poore, that she was espoused to a C [...]rp [...] ter: [Page] At his Birth worship't by many Shepheards, but by a few Wise men, three onely: Persecuted by Herod, and living in such a retired obscurity untill the time of his Baptisme, that John himselfe knew him not.

But let us examine▪ more particularly his miseries, and beginning [Page] with his Birth, pace on dolefully with him to his Death, by which wee shall finde that he came into this World, and continued in it with the same misery and ignominy hee left it.

Where was he borne? in Jerusalem? no. In a stately Pallace? no. Where then? in Bethlem, a poore Village, [Page] that the World not without Amazement might behold Obscurity bring forth Glory. In what place in Bethlem? in a poore Inne. In what part of the Inne? in the Stable, where the first Ayre he breathed stunke of several Ordures. Hee was welcomed indeed into the World with lowd Musicke, but it was a [Page] wild one, made by an Oxe and an Asse His lodging promised neither Honor nor safety, for hee lay with Beasts, and at their mercy; but heere no doubt, was to be seene a most pleasing spectacle, a brutish Innocency worshipping a Heavenly.

No sooner was He borne, but Hee lost [Page] Blood in his Circumcisi [...] ▪ no sooner Circum [...]is'd, then destin'd to slaughter. Vsurping Herod trembled at the Birth of this Almighty Babe, who was indeed the true KING of the Iewes. He therefore vowed his Death, which to procure, he insinuated himselfe into the good graces of the Wisemen, and [Page] besought them to acquaint him with the abode of the child, that hee also might come and Worship him. But they knowing by Divine Revelation, his bloody meaning, gave him the slip, and returned into their own Countrey another way. Seeing this plot frustrated, hee makes a Massacre of all the male [...] [Page] from two yeares olde and under (hoping inclusively to cut off his new born Prince,) whose immaculate soules [...]lew backe to their Maker, adornd with their Primitive beauty, and their innocent blood cryed for Uengeance at his hands.

Here also the cruel intentions of this Tyrant were deluded, for [Page] the poverty of this holy Lambe was his security, which did so Eclipse him, that hee could not by his owne lustre be discerned and betrayed. Moreover the quiet of his parents by day, and their sleep by night were continually disturbed with divine Dreames and Visions touching his preservation. Alas, [Page] what had this pretty one done, that could incite this bloody monster to study his ruine? He had slaine none of the Herodian family, or the Iewish race, that hee should be made a Parentation Though parentation commonly signifies the performance of any office due to the deceased Parents: yet here it signifies the slaying of those Enemies, or any of their race, who flew our Parents, or any of our blood.. It was Love not Malice [Page] invited him to descend from his heavenly habitation: His comming was to shed no blood but his owne, and that for the Salvation of others. Yet was his incomparable Mother forced to flie as farre as Aegypt, to save the deare life of this sweete one, guilty neither in thought, [Page] word, nor act.

Long was he banded to and fro betweene the Ministers of the divell, who now easeth his servants, and becomes himselfe in person his Tormentor. He first leads him into the Wildernesse, hoping either to starve him, or that hunger would provoke him [Page] to Blaspheme. After he had fasted fortie Dayes, and fortie Nights, hee propounds to him a tryall of his Godhead: If, saith hee, thou be the Son of God, command that these Stones be made Bread: Now, though Christs Omnipotency could not onely have turned those stones into [Page] bread, but the whole Globe of the Earth into one Loafe: yet at the divels instigation he would not do it, neither did his owne necessity require it: and therefore he gave him to understand, that his food was supernaturall, to wit, the Word of his Father, a dyet which his scorcht pallat [Page] could not rellish. Next he sets him on a Pinacle of the Holy Temple, where hee makes another experiment of his Deity: If, saith he, thou be the Sonne of God, cast thy selfe downe, &c. Here againe, though Christ could have walked, or flowne in the Aire, or stood fixt in it, (a thing no way [Page] difficult to him) yet having taken our flesh upon him, hee would in all things doe like a man; and therefore there being a paire of staires, hee would not neglect the ordinary meanes of descending. Moreover, he was not ignorant, that Sathan had impaired the Text, [Page] which sayes, that God should give his Angels charge over him in all [...] Bishop An [...] on the [...]. his waies: but a desperate precipitation becomes not a Christian, much lesse Christ himselfe; and therefore could be none of his waies. Last of all, hee placeth him on the top of an exceeding high [Page] Mountaine, where he makes a third proofe of his Divinity: Having thence shewed him all the Kingdomes of the Earth, and the glory of them, he maks him this large promise, All these things, saith he, will I give thee, if thou wilt fall downe and worship mee: This last Test hee knew to bee [Page] infallible; for if hee were the Lord of Light, he would never abase himselfe so far, as to worship the Prince of darknes. But heere I cannot wonder enough, how a spirit not dull'd by actuating a fleshy body, should bee so foolish, as to propound that as a reward of Christs worship, [Page] which was his owne before; for hee could not but know, that Christs Dominion extended not onely over both the Globes, but even his owne Hell it selfe.

Finding at length our blessed Saviour in all things unanswerable, hee left him, and gave him [Page] over once againe into the hands of his Damned Agents, whom hee had furnisht with full instructions how to torture, and afflict him. After a long consultation the 1. thing their inveteterate malice excepted against, was his Preaching (which, though it had made others [Page] Saints) turned them into Furies, an evident proofe that the doctrine of Salvation is loath some, to soules full gorged with the surfeits of sinne. Truth of her selfe is perswasive, but passing through that mouth, and delivered with so sweet an Eloquution, so gratious a Countenance▪ [Page] mee thinks shee should Civilize Barbarisme it selfe, penetrate the most obdurate hearts, and Force Attention from the very Divels. But these Spiders suck venome from this Rose, and seeke to roote it up. Here the saying is verisied, that there can be▪ no society, [Page] much lesse a friendship between Truth, and Falsehood. They throw stones at him, & drive him out of their Citty, with a resolution to cast him downe from a high Mountaine. You barbarous Infidels, hath he upon mature consideration, of all the Nations of the Earth, chosen you for his people, and [Page] doe you refuse him that elected you? Are you of humane race, and can you butcher Innocency it selfe? Shall the Sacrifice for your sinnes, fall a Sacrifice to your Malice? Sure you were borne without bowells, or the Rockes ingendred and brought you forth, their flinty natur'd issue, to infect Mankind with a savage [Page] cruelty. Why this is the Corner-stone, which taken away, the whole Frame of your wel being here, and your Salvation hereafter consequently totters, and falls into an irreparable, and eternall ruine. But God hath given you over to a reprobate sense, and your Reason and Religion have left you to be guided by your evill [Page] Destiny. You will, I see, cast your Saviour with your rubbish out of his owne Citty, over which he weepes the divining teares of her neare approaching destruction. When your Temple, and your Houses burnt round about you, then did Titus, (whom the Romans stil'd, deliciae humani generis, the delight of [Page] humane kinde) out of a noble and a manly pitty, beseech you to save your selves; yet being the brood of obstinacy, you would not move a foote, but saw your owne bodies consume in fire made with your owne hands. And Iesus (who hath a style above Titus, as being deliciae coelestium incolarum, the delight of the [Page] heavenly Inhabitants▪ with his eyes drown'd in water, (like the Sunne looking through a rainy Cloud) beheld you with Compassion, and wooed you to make him the happy means of your preservation, from the never dying flames now ready to imbrace you▪ Notwithstanding this his mercifull offer, you ingratefull Monsters, at [Page] once, excluded him [...] of the earthly Hie [...]salem, and your [...]lves out of the heaven [...]. But the very dis [...]ursing with you is con [...]gious, and therefore I [...]ll leave to speake fur [...]er to your persons, and [...]oceed to your horrid [...]actices and strata [...]ms against our mee [...]st Master, in the as [...]ming of whose name [Page] upon us, we are asmuc [...] honour'd as he abased▪ taking our Nature up on him.

But to goe on i [...] my sad relation, Th [...] Text sayes, he desired to passe into Samaria, but the Samaritans would no [...] give admittance to his Harbingers. Sathan playes his part, and armes all places [Page] against him, ren [...]ring him as despi [...]able in the Countrey, [...]s the City. To this [...]heir insolency hee [...]eplies nothing, but His Disciples, James and John took snuffe at it, and said, Lord, wilt thou that wee command fire to come downe from Heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, [Page] and rebuked them, a [...] sayd, yee know not wh [...] Spirit ye are of, for [...] Sonne of man is not co [...] to destroy mens liv [...] but to save them▪ Hee let them know his purpose n [...] was to establish, an [...] propagate his doctrine with the swor [...] and the Faggot, practice at this da [...] very frequent wit [...] [Page] Christians, betwixt whom wee read of greater Carnages, then betweene them and the Turkes. He gave them to understand that his Church and hee used but one kinde of Armour, Prayer. When St. Peter ask't this mild one, How often shall I forgive my offending brother? 7. times? hee [Page] answered, I say n [...] unto thee 7 times, bu [...] 70 times seven, Math▪ 18. And in the sam [...] place, to shew vs that we should forgive our Neighbours from our hearts, hee brings in the Parable of the wicked Servant, to whom his Master had forgiven a Thousand Tallents: Hee bids us learne of him▪ [Page] for he is meeke, &c. Lord wee must learne it of thee, or no where; for amongst the▪ Philosophers it is not to bee found. Their cheife good, and thy Beatitude are as distant as the Poles. The Stoick (of all the Philosophical sects nearest in vertue to thine owne) wanted Humility, thy owne peculiar vertue. With [Page] the Aristotelian, mercy is contemptible, Revenge Laudable, the first motions of our affections not culpable; whereas thou placest thy prime happinesse in poorenesse of Spirit, in Meeknesse, in Want, in Mercy, in Cleanenesse of heart, in Peace, in Mourning, in Afflictions, &c. Sweet Jesus thou art beyond the Level of our [Page] imitation, but not of our admiration, which shall ever bee fixt on thee as its best, and only obiect.

Pardone Pious Reader my zeale, which so often interrupts my Method, in that it is so inflamed with a Holy love of this our sacred Emanuell, that I cannot but make a cursory Paraphrase [Page] in the persecution of his Story. I must now come to the most Execrable of all Acts, the betraying of our blessed Saviour by one of his owne Family.

To perfect this their cursed enterprise, they begin with the breach of the Lawes of Hospitality (the only [Page] stayne of the They brib'd K. Pr [...]sias to betray Hanniball being his guest. Roman Empire) and make a strange and horrible conversion of an Apostle into a Traytor. For thirty peeces of Silver (a summe despicable in the eye of many a Cutpurse) he sould his soule to Lucifer, and his best friend to his greatest Enemies. [Page] And the mannor of his persidiousnesse is worse then the crime it selfe, for hee Betrayed him with a kisse, a signe as appropriate to friendship, as the ioyning of the right hands. Him whom he knew to be God; whom his conference assured him to be without blemish, [Page] to whom he was oblieged by so many tyes, as of dependancy, of instruction, of affection, he delivers over a prey into the iawes of these ravenous Wolves. And this Treachery of his our indulgent Redeemer both foreknew and foretold not long before; yet did hee [Page] not discover any displeasure conceived against him in word or look. Nay when hee came to apprehend him as a Malefactor, hee called him friend. I dare all ages to produce me such a president of patience. On the fatall instrument of all his Tribulations and Persecutions, [Page] he bestowes this most familiar, this most deare title of friend. * Such Friends asOamici, amicus nemo. this, Aristotle intends when he sayes: O friends there is no friend.

Having bought this distressed King as a slave at a certaine price, like such they lead him up [Page] and downe, and no man offers to rescue him, save onely Peter, whose bold Attempt he stops with this Denuntiation, al that use the sword, shall perish with the Sword. And heere wee have another effect of his sweetnes in healing the wound of his foe, given by his friend. [Page] Those on whom he had wrought such miraculous cures; all forsake him. It is likely enough, that the same Eyes to which hee had restored sight, now lookt on him with scorne, and envy; that those dumbe Tongues to which he had given speech, curst & revild him; that those decrepit [Page] Feet which he had enabled to walk, ranne not to embrace, but apprehend him; Nay it is not incredible, (such was the ingratitude of this obdurate Nation,) that they out of whom hee had cast Divells, now called him Divell for his labour. All his benefits though infinite, [Page] and fresh, an ungratefull Oblivion seizeth on: Nay, his owne servants abandon him, and not long after, his owne Peter denies him. Onely a few tender hearted Women, face danger, and follow him. From Annas to Caiphas, from Caiphas [...]o Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, and [Page] from Herod, againe t [...] Pilate, they hurr [...] this future Judge [...] the living, and th [...] dead. Here Innocency is opposed, Simplicity made a laughing stocke, and Truth trampled on by Falshood. Here is to be scene a Combate, but an unequall one where Fury assaults and Patience [...]ave [...] [Page] her selfe open. They illanously▪ Abuse [...]im, both in words [...]nd deeds. In words with severall stings, [...]s detracting, con [...]radicting, contumelious, deriding▪ [...]n detracting, both privily, and openly: Privily when they said softly to each other: If this man were a Prophet, hee would [Page] know what manner of woman this is. And, this man `Blasphemes. Openly, when the Pharises upbraided his Disciples with this Question, Why doth your Master eate, and drinke with Publicans and Sinners? Also when they depraved his Miracles. In Belzebub, Prince of the Divells, [Page] he casts out Divells. and, This man is not [...]f God, because hee [...]eepes not the Sabboth. [...]n speeches contradictory they thwar [...]ed him, as when they said, Thou art [...]hy owne witnesse: Also, Thy Testimony is not [...]rue, and, Thou art not yet fifty yeares old, and hast thou seene Abraham? In Phrases [Page] contumelious they reproachit him, as Luke the Fifth, Say wee▪ not truely that thouart a Samaritan and hast a Divell▪s and, who is this that speakes Blasphemies? But especially they reviled him in the house of Annas, and Caiphas, as also before Pilate, and Herod. Moreover, [Page] when hee hung on the Crosse, he heard no other language. Lastly, they vildly, and grosly derided him, when hee said the Maid was not dead, but slept, and in the house of Pilate they bowed their knees to him in dirision. In his Passion againe they ieered him, as when wee come to it [Page] wee shall shew it at large.

But these talkative wrongs are tolerable, in respect of those committed against him by fact, which are more insupportable as being centuple greater in their Nature and number. As Physitians give their Patients Preparatives, [Page] that make them lesse sick before they administer Stronger medicines, which search the veines, and more offend the stomack: So these hangmen by the lesser tortures inure, and prepare him to endure the greater.

Fex Romuli, the scumme of the world, insulted over the [Page] Lord of it; The [...] goe to Boyes pla [...] with him, they blind and buffet him, an [...] then bid him ghe [...] at the striker▪ T [...] render him a tru [...] spectacle of laughter they change his ga [...] ment, and dress him like a Buffoo [...] And (that their Villany might be compleat) in that fac [...] [Page] (wherein Beauty, Mercy, and Modesty, strove for superioritie) they spit the noysome infection of their Rotten Longues. But let us examine how he behaves himselfe in the mid'st of these outrages: He received them with the same Countenance: that others doe benefits▪ [Page] all blowes hee takes as if they had hit him, being meant to another. But now his enduring, and their afflicting draw both to a period; For they clime to the Summity of Wickednesse, and (thirsting for the last drop of his pretious blood) they againe hale him before [Page] Pilate, from whom he was to expect his last sentence. Here is hee fiercely and strongly accused by the Pharises, by whom, and by Pilate he is questioned about many particulars; to which hee replies nothing at all. Alas to whom should hed answere? to the Jewes? they [Page] were plotters and Actors, in his Tragedy. To Pilate? he was wholy ignorant of the cause, They ask't him if he were the sonne of God? had he answer'd affirmitively, the Maw of their envy had beene filled; for that confession was it they look't for. Againe, reply Negatively [Page] he could not; for Truth cannot lye. Nor doe I see why he should speake ought in his owne defence, the fairenesse of whose life was his Apology. They might aswell discerne a staine in the body of the Sunne, as in him the least imperfection.

When Pilate had [Page] heard the uttermost they could alleadge against him, he acquitted him, but the more he spake in his defence, the more they cryed out, Crucifie him. Notwithstanding their vociferation, hee clear'd him againe, and againe. At length, though Pilate knew the Jewes to have no [Page] other cause, then their owne rancor, and hatred against Jesus. Yet abhorring their importunity and clamour, and fearing Caesars displeasure, (for they publikely told him, Christ had dishonour'd Caesar, in calling himselfe a King) hee delivered this Righteous one to bee [Page] scourged and crucisied by these inhumane Monsters. Yet ere hee gave him up to their fury, hee call'd for water; and washed his hands before the Multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this iust person, see you to it; to whom all the people answered and said, His blood be [Page] upon us and our Children.

Here, not without reverence and astonishment, let us observe three points in this uniust Arraignment very remarkeable. First, that God sometimes forceth truth from the mouthes of lyars, contrary to their owne intention. Secondly, that [Page] hee compelleth the wicked to cleare the righteous, even when they think they most condemne them, and frames al their actions to his owne ends▪ when they thinke they are most directed to their owne scope; not unlike to him who on the Hatches of a Shippe walkes East, when [Page] by the force of the Winde hee is carried West. Thirdly, and lastly, that though GODS Iudgements▪ move slowly, yet cortainely at length, & when least expected, they overtake oppressours, and the blood-thirsty.

The first observation is made good in Caiphas, who with [Page] a lowd voyce exclaymed, That one must die for the people: which (though quite contrary to his meaning) was indeede verified in Christ, who died for their manifold transgressions. Also those who call'd him King of the Jewes, sayd most truely, though they spake it by way of [Page] scoffing. The second is manifested in Herod, who sent him away in a white Robe, which colour ever yet argued the innocency and integrity of them that wore it, though no doubt Herod cherish't no such good opinion of him, but held him a man guilty, and an Imposter.

[Page]The third is clearely demonstrated in Pilate, Herod, and the whole body of the Jewish nation. As for Pilate, he being accused to Caius Caesar, for corruption, and misgovernment in his Province, hee chose rather to fall upon his owne Sword, then abide his Triall. Herod having [Page] made an oration to the People which commanded not onely their attention, but adoration (as it appeares in that with generall acclamations, they vowed it to bee the voice of a God) was by the Angell of the [...]rue, and iealous God smitten, and the Wormes immediately [Page] devoured him. Here is a plaine demonstration what Power, what Maiesty is when it is deprived of Gods favour. As a Mirrour while the Sunne Plaies upon it, sends forth Beames that at once doth dazle and delight the Eye, but (bard his luster) looseth those rayes, and [Page] growes dim againe: So when God smiles on Princes, and irradiats their mindes with Knowledge, and Vertue, they appeare bright and glorious in the eyes of all men; but hee once averring the shine of his loving Countenance, they become obseure, and there is nothing [Page] worthy in them discernable. The truth of this is apparant in Herod, who stands heere a poore worm, devoured by his fellowes.

Nor did this Generation of Vipers, the Jewes (though forewarned) shun the vengeance which not long after fell upon their Heads. For [Page] Vespasian and Titus having long besieged their Citty, it was by his Engines, and their owne fire utterly defaced, having before hardely escaped Drowning in a slood of theirs & their Childrens blood mixt together.

There were of them in the space of seven yeares in Civill [Page] and Forraigne Warres these severall slaughters faithfully collected out of Josephus.

FIrst, there were slaine at Hierusalem by the command of Florns, 630.

At Caesarea, by the inhabitants there for hatred of their Nation, and their Religion, 20000.

At Scithopilis a Towne of Syria, 130000.

At Ascalon in Palestina. 2500

[Page] Also at Ptolomais, 2000

At Alexandrea in Aegypt under Tiberius Alexander then President, 50000.

At Damascus, 10000.

All these were put to the Sword by Sedition and Tumults.

After this there fell in open Warre by the hands of the Romans, these ensuing.

When Joppa was taken [...] Cesius Florus, 8400.

In Mount Cabulon, 200 In sight at Ascalon, 10000.

[Page]Againe, by Stratagem, 8000.

At the taking of Aphaca, 15000.

In Mount Garizin, 11000

At Jotopa, where Josephus himselfe was in person, 30000

At the taking of Joppa were drowned, 420 [...]

In Tarichaeis, 650 [...]

At Gamala, killed by t [...] Enemy, and their own precipitation from hig [...] places, 900

Where not one humane race escape but two Sisters.

[Page]Giscala being forsaken, there were slaine in the fight, 2000. and taken Captives, which we number not, 2200.

In the Streets of Idu [...]ea, 10000.

At Gerasium, 1000.

At Macheruns, 1700.

In Massada, 960.

In Cirene slaine by Ca [...]lus the President, 3000.

In Hierusalem in the [...]e of the siege, 1000000

Taken Captives which [...] wil not number, 97000

The whole summe, [Page] (omitting those which perished by Famine, Exile, and Mischances) amounteth to One Million, two hundred thirtie and two Thousands, sixe Hundred and Ninety.

TO these miseries I may adde, that at this day they cannot properly be called a Na [...], being dispersed heere and there, (like Rogues and Vagabonds) ove [...] [Page] the face of the Earth, having in all Countries, Mulcts imposed on their estates, and in some themselves enioyned to weare a marke on their Clothes, wherby they may bee distinguish'd from other honest men. I may also truely a [...]werre that no people under Heaven, hath [Page] so much degenerated from the primitive purity of their Religion, See M. de Pless [...] in his Tract. of the Iewes. having defiled it with introduction of innumerable new Ceremonies, and alteration of the old. But withall I must confesse, I know not what Nation else hath strictly kept her Integrity, [Page] they having never yet matched out of their owne Tribes and Race.

I must withall insert this caution, that I speak not of Proselites, but of legitimate Proselites were such Heathen people as disclayming Paganisme, became converts, and ioyened themselves unto the Church of the Iewes. A Iew by father or mother, was called an Hebrew, but he who was a Iew both by father and mother, was stiled an Hebrew of Hebrews, and such I here speak of. Jewes by Father or Mother, or [Page] both. I professe seriously, that nothing amazeth mee so much, as the contemplation of the unparallel'd obstinacy and impiety of this seed of Abraham, chosen by God to be the dispensers of his Oracles. A lamentable proofe of this, is the murther of many thousands of Christians, [Page] for the abhominable Crimes of these Miscreants. For though these two Religions are as farre from each other in Nature and distance, as Heaven and Earth, yet the Romans often confounded them: which wee may perceive by this, that in their persecutions they seldome or never distinguish't [Page] them. Many (not verst in Story) raile at Tacitus, and others for inveying against the Christians, and the Jewes of those times. But what Historian could abstaine from a severe censure of them, when hee found the later dayly dragg'd to Execution, for such villanies [Page] as the very imagination of them (could it be detected) ought to be as punishable as the Action? Should any but a Christian reade their damn'd facts in any of the foure Evangelists, he would throw away the Bible as a Fable, not thinking it credible, there could be such [Page] inhumanity in men.

And I am confident, had Pliny beleeved as much of them, as we know, that they had not onely reiected, but buffeted, spit upon, scourg'd, and crucified their legitimate King, and Redeemer, hee would not have vouchsafed them roome amongst his [Page] foure-footed Beasts, but have plac▪t them amongst his crawling creatures, and venemous Serpents. And with such they deserve to be rank'd, as not worthy to retaine the name of Men, having long since put off the Nature.

Those guiltlesse hands (which so [Page] often hee had lifted up to his Father for their Conversion) they binde so fast, that the Cord eates into his tender flesh. On that Head wherein Universall Wisedome was contained, they set a Crowne of Thornes so fast, that his purest Blood runnes in streames downe his sweetest Face: That [Page] Body (which Whitenesse and Symmetry consulted to make lovely above all other) they unmercifvlly and uncessantly whippe from the top to the bottome, so that from head to foot hee was but one continued Sore. On his shoulders they lay his weighty Crosse, and lest with a fall, [Page] he should ease himselfe of his Burthen, they shoulder him up on all sides: If at any time hee lag, these Butchers beat, and kick him on, as if hee were a Beast. But seeing him faint, and fearing hee would dye, before hee had undergone all the paines provided for him, they [Page] load an obvious Stranger called Simon, with his Crosse. And and thus they lead him to be made an Oblation for the sins of the whole World. See the love, and Humility of this our dearest Messias; he saw they would not take up his Crosse, and follow him, he takes it up himselfe, [Page] and followes them. All this was done by the eternall decree of his Father, for there was found no Sacrifice under the Law powerful enough, to appease the wrath of God, iustly conceived against Man. Wherfore Man must for ever suffer, or the Sonne of God once for him, whose suffering [Page] onely was of Vertue sufficient to worke this blessed reconciliation: For the Passion of Christ was suteable to his person; his person of infinite excellency, could not bee so abased without insinite Merit, accrued by such Humiliation. His dying was more the Equivalent to all the [Page] Worlds frying in Hel everlastingly. Here the foolish Atheist scoffs us, demanding how it was possible that God should suffer. Heare thou prophane wretch the the voyce of the Church. God is said to suffer by Union, who could not suffer by Nature. Heare againe blinde Infidel; [Page] Hee who dyed on the Crosse and lives eternally; hee who suffers on Earth, and not in Heaven; whose Body suffers and yet not hee with his body; he who is overcome by Death, and yet vanquisht it, although hee be not one in Nature, yet hee is one Redeemer, and one and the same Person. As the Soule and the [Page] Body are Different things, yet make but one man.

Wee now arrive at the abridgement of his Story, his Passion, and at the Consummation of his Humility, his Death.

A Man would thinke it had beene paines enough for him to beare his Crosse, without bearing [Page] more upon it: But their malice is insatiable, and they cannot imagine how they can inflict, or he indure too much. His hands soft as those of Mercy, his feet never swift to shed their blood, they pierce with massie Nayles, which they drive in with as little remorse as if hee were made, [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] of Wood. They scoffe athim; and Nodding their heads, and bending their knees, they salute him by the name of King of the Jewes. Nay, they utter such blasphemies that I wonder they were not attended with a Thunderbolt They not onely dar [...] him of himselfe to descend, but his father [Page] to fetch him downe; Who could in a moment have commanded one Angell [...]o have destroyed [...]hem, and their Coun [...]rey, and have left [...]t to bee demanded, where Judaea was. Being as thirsty in [...]he heate of this cru [...]l Conflict betwixt [...]he Flesh and the Spi [...]t, as the Earth is [Page] under the reigne of the Dog-starre, hee desires drinke, to whom they proffer a base beverage made of Vinegar and Gall two ingredients no [...] good enough for the drench of a Horse▪ Three of the Evangelists affirme, that they who were crucified with him▪ revile [...] him also: But Sain [...] [Page] Luke saith, that onely one was faulty. Which Difference Saint Austine thus reconciles, that at first indeed they both vi [...]ifi'de him, but that one of them by a suddaine inspiration, instantly repented, and rebuked the other, saying, Dost thou not [...]are God, seeing thou [...]rt in the same condemnation? [Page] and we indeed iustly, for wee receive the due reward of our deeds, but this man hath done nothing amisse and he said unto Jesus Lord remember me when thou comest int [...] thy Kingdome.

I will not he [...] with some conclud [...] that this good Thie [...] was hee who w [...] on the right han [...] [Page] of our Saviour, and that it was not without the speciall providence of God; neither will I deny it: It shall suffice me, that Christ said to him, This day shalt thou bee with mee, in Paradise. None of the Roman Caesars either on his Tribunall, or in his Triumphant Chariot, could have spoken so [Page] bravely and powerfully, as our Saviour here did in the extremity of his Agony. This day will I make thee a Governour of Provinces, or, This day will I make thee a sharer with me in all my Glories: Or, This day will I give thee command over Legions: Or, this day will I divide the habitable World into [Page] two parts, and accept of that halfe thou refusest; This is all Caesar could have said. These Offers are scant, and narrow, in respect of the promise here, made by our Omnipotent Redeemer: This day of a Publican, I will make thee a Saint; This day of a Malefactor, I will make thee a Martyr; [Page] This day I will translate thee from Earth into the Impyriall Heaven; This can be no other then the voice of an Almighty Saviour. O happy, O blessed Day! wherein Sinne is depressed, the Sinner exalted, and the Gates of Heaven heretofore shut against him, now opened to him, by God himselfe; [Page] where the Honour equalls the Benefit. The entry into Paradise heretofore was guarded by a Cherubin, having a flaming Sword in his hand. The Fire is now extinguish'd, the Sword taken from him, and now there is no guard upon it. Nay, that no man might despaire of entrance, [Page] it is first of all opened to a Thiefe, in whose soule before his conversion, vices were as thicke, and as surely rooted as the haires in his head. The Jewes who lay claime to Sanctity, (as onely proper to them) are reiected. He who at first was ableto forme Man, can now forme himselfe [Page] a new people. Hee that before condemned the proud Pharise in the Temple, now iustifies the pensive Theefe on the Crosse. It was now about the ninth houre, when Christ full of anguish both in Soule and Body, cryed out with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, Lamasabachthani, My God, [Page] my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Here the the Atheist steps in againe; and askes how hee could despaire, and be a God? to whom I vouchsafe this answere, that heere is to be heard only the voice of the flesh, which denotes not at all the seperation of God from his Humanity, but [Page] the Calamity of his Humanity it selfe; for hee could not bee forsaken by him, from whom he could no way bee seperated. But that thou maist be certaine, this could bee no lesse then a God: behold heere Nature her selfe suffering with her Lord. From the first borne saith the Text, [Page] There was a generall darknesse over the whole face of the Earth. Nor was this a common, but a supernaturall Ecclipse, as testifieth Saint Austine: Lib. 3 de civil Dei. cap. 15 Quam solis obscurationem non ex Canonico Syder [...] cursu accidisse satis ostenditur, quod tu [...] erat Pascha Judaeorum: [...]an plena luna solemniter [Page] agitur: It is evident, saith he, that Ecclipse of the Sunne not to have happened by the ordinary, and orderly course of the Starres, it being then the Passover of the Jewes, which is solemnised at the full Moone. And this was it that gave occasion as is the common opinion, to that memorable Exclamation [Page] of Dionisius the Arcopagite, residing then in Aegipt: Aut Deus Naturae patitur, aut Machina mundi disolvetur: Either the God of Nature suffers, or the Fabrick of the World will be dissolved. And hereupon too, as it is thought by some, was erected that Altar at Athens Ignoto Deo, to the unknowne [Page] God. Acts 17. 23. I am not ignorant that some think that Ecclipse was confin'de within the borders of Judaea, which opinion I rather incline to, because if it had beene generall quite over the World, Tacitus, and the Historians of that time must of necessity have mentioned [Page] it, Judaea being them subiect to the Roman Empire. Nay, the ensuing Ages would not have buried in silence a thing so strange and miraculous. Howsoever, it cannot be denied, but that it was certainly beside, and above the course of Nature. Neither ought it produce [Page] wonder, That th [...] Sunne in the Firmament of Heaven should suffer, when the Son of Righteousnesse suffered upon Earth.

You seed of Perdition what have you done? your Blasphemies, and Iniquities have chased the all gladding Light out of Heaven, and you now are left in a C [...]ri [...]n darkenesse, a [Page] presage of that you shall eternally dwell in. And will not this moove you to acknowledge your Potent King, and Redeemer? The Vaile of your Temple rents, and falls with him who taught the ever living truth in it, in token that all Prophesies of his death are now fulfilled; and will not this perswade you to pros [...]ate [Page] your selves before him? No, no, all things in Heaven, and Earth resent his Death, save obstinate you onely. The Earth it selfe trembles, but you quake not. The Rocks split, but your Adamantine hearts are of proofe against all his Calamities. The graves open, but your bosomes are shut. The Dead with him arise, but you [Page] lye still wallowing in your owne filthy enormities. Yet this is no wonder; for they were dead in Nature, you in finne; whose weighty burthen lies so heavy on you, that you cannot possibly get up. Hee is yet alive, yet sue to him, of whom never any begg'd in vaine. You see hee is willing to remit your trespasses, [Page] in that hee hath in the very height of his torments prayed to his Father for you. Hee is now giving up the Ghost; yet call on him for mercy, that with his last gaspe hee may pronounce your pardon. But it is now too late, hee is dead to you, and you to Grace: He hath now finished this great worke, and commended [Page] his hands, that will keepe it as the apple of his Eye.

Having seene how they used him in his lefe, let us now make an inquiry, whether or no they behaved them selves to him more reverently (being dead.) When the Body of their Soveraigne, and Saviour had hung [Page] many Houres betweene his Foot stole, and his Throne, they take it downe, not with a resolution to honor it with burial, but to mangle, and deface it. They thrust a Speare into his side, out of which ranne Water and Blood, the representers, as some thinke, of his two [Page] misticall Sacraments. His Coat being seamlesse, and therefore not divideable, they cast lots for. And then they left him Naked as a prey to the Beasts of the Earth, and the foules of the Ayre. But he is otherwise provided for by his Heavenly Father, who sendeth Joseph of A [Page] a iust man & a Councellor (who refused to be present at the condemnation of Iesus) to beg the body of Pilate, which obtained, he foulded it in fine Lynnen, and layd it in a new Sepulcher, where never man was laid before. And heere not without sighes, and teares, and groanes [Page] I leave him, the utbounds of this discourse being his Death and Passion.

But I forbid no thee, O my Soule to repeat, & revolve within thy selfe th [...] dignity of thy Saviour, and the indignity of his sufferings. We discern some sparkes of the brightnesse and glory [Page] of his Beauty in his creatures, but the ioynt stocke of their whole life can no more expresse him, then can a Gloworme, the Jubar of the Sun. O fixe thine Eyes here for ever, and lose thy sight together with this obiect. Consider, O my Soule, that to ransome thee, this Master [Page] peece, this utmost endeavour of Nature and the Holy Ghost, offered himselfe a most willing Sacrifice. Rise, saith hee, behold he is at hand that doth betray mee. And in another place it is said, Jesus therefore knowing all these things that▪ should come upon him, went forth, and said unto [Page] them, Whom seekyee? They answered him, Iesus of Nazareth. Jesus said unto them, I am hee, &c. Heere he meeteth sedition halfe way, gazeth her in the face, and fearelesse confesseth his name.Athanas. de incar. Thomas 3 Sum. And some learned Devines thinke that he would not die by [Page] disease, or age, lest he should seeme to leave this life against his will, or out of Naturall infinite Common to all.

But with his unvaluable Worth, Ballance the Affronts and Miseries Hee Endures.

§

[Page]

1. THis Lord of Lords that frees the captiv'd, and illuminates the blinde; is apprehended, and bound like a Theefe.

2. Nay, they preferre a Theefe and a Murderer before him, demanding Barrabas to be released, and him to be Crucified.

3. Call to mind againe, oh my soule, that for thy Crimes hee carried his owne ponderous Crosse, and groaned under the [Page] weight of it: which that the other two did, that suffered with him, wee read not.

4. Meditate also, that for thee he was scourg'd, in which hee underwent, divers punishments due to severall offenders. It was the custome amongst the Antients, to strike the indocible on the head, their servants which they cast out of doores on the necke, those who were ordinary delinquents on the [...]ace and their more heinous [Page] Criminals all over the body: Christ endured all these. They strucke his Head with a wande or rod, his Face and necke with their fists, and his whole body they whipt with rods and scourges.

5. But weigh withall, that the lashes given his soule by the tongues of Blasphemers and deriders, were more intollerable then the former.

6. Contemplate too, that his Torment was much augmented by the very thought of the infamous [Page] company he suffered with: for they plac't him in the middest betweene two Theeves, as if hee had beene their instructer and seducer.

7. Neither canst thou beleeve, O my Soule, but as hee had more grace, so hee had more shame then other men, which must needs be infinite, in that hee was become a naked Spectacle to his greatest Enemies, not having any vaile to cover those parts which humane Nature would have [Page] hidden from the eye.

8. He suffred also in his estate, goods, and friends, of the first of which hee was stripped even to the skinne, and of the latter (consisting of his owne deare Disciples) forsaken.

9. And hee was grieviously troubled in mind which did compassionate, his fellow feelers standing under the Crosse, (as his Mother and others) and repine at the insolent fury of his foes.

[Page]10. His Fame and Reputation (deare to him, as his owne eyes) is not onely question'd, but defil'd with false and base aspersions, for they termed him a Seducer. Observe also, ô my soule, that hee suffered in regard of the place, the time and the manner of his Death.

11. First, in respect of the place, which was Hierusalem it selfe, where he was once wel knowne, & honored for the miracles [Page] he had there performed.

12. Secondly, in consideration of the time, of the yeare, and of the Day (the feast of the Passeover being then celebrated) which to solemnite▪ a great multitude [...]nd concourse of people resorted thither, [...] that hee had the eyes of all the World upon him. Agayne, it was upon the sixt houre of the day, with us the twelfth, when all men were up & ready, & walking abroad.

[Page]13. Thirdly in regard of the kinde of Death, he did undergoe, to with the Cursed Death of the Crosse.

14. Remember also, O my better halfe, that his Passiō was aggravated, by reason of the natural cō plexion of his Body; for it is certaine his Body was of a most admirable and delicate Temper, as being organiz'd by the Holy Ghost himselfe. And hence it came to passe that being thus [Page] formed without any defect, or error in Nature, there was no conflict betweene his Flesh and his Spirit. Wherefore his Spirit by strong consequence must love his flesh, better then any other Spirit or Soule can, or ought to love its body.

15. And it is very worthy thy serious Meditation: That his anguish was increased in respect of the quality of those members in which hee [Page] most suffered, as his hands and feet, which are nervous, and most perceptive, and most apprehensive of paine.

16. Moreover consider O my Soule, that his passion was exacerbated in regard of the diuturnity or long continuance of it. The Holy Martyres who have perish't by fire, water, or the sword, have quickly finish't their Martyrdome, which the same howre, or the same Sunne hath seene [Page] begunne and ended. But the passion of thy Redeemer endured from the very instant (as it were) of his conception to the houre of his Death. For hee certainly foreknew what his Humanity was to suffer, the very imagination whereof made him sweatblood. Finde if thou canst what particle of his life was free from persecution. But more eminently it endured from that dismall houre after Supper, to the Ninth houre of [Page] the Sixt Holy day [...] Wonder not therefore that his Soule was sad and heavy, since he was most cruelly tor [...]ur'd in all his senses. His eyes on the other side saw the grim and fierce lookes of his Executioners; on the other, the amiable countena [...]ce of his Mother, and his other female Votaries, together with his beloved Disciple, all which (as he was man) he was loath to part with. His Eares heard nothing but insulting, and deriding [Page] Blasphemies. His Taste was distasted with [...] most bitter and loathsome potion, being a compound of Vineger and Gall. The paine he endured in his feeling, was diffus'd cleane through his body, his Nostrills drew in nothing but Noysome stinks, and dampes arising from putrified Carkasses, for it was the common place design'd both for the Execution and buriall of Malefactors, which is implied in the [Page] name they gave it, God gotha, in our Tongue the place of Dead men sculls.

And if wee follow some of the Hebrew Interpreters, this is the very place, wherein Adam longsince was buried, for the truth o [...] which, I wish I had some better authority then that of a Jew. But if it bee true, it is questionlesse not without the speciall providence of God, that sinne might first [Page] lose his force there [...]here hee first gathered strength. And this is the Master-comfort of a Christian (without which [...]ee were lesse happy [...]hen the Heathen) that [...]t the second comming [...]f Christ hee shall rise in Glory, in despite of Death, whose sting shall be taken out, and hee [...]ive with GOD for ever. And this infinite benefit is an effect of his Passion.

§

[Page]

O Hasten Lord Jesu [...] that ioyfull day, which all thy Elect have, an [...] doe still long to see; whe [...] Death and Time sh [...]l [...] l [...] their Scepters, as I d [...] now my selfe, prostrat [...] before thee. Then shall I, and neuer till then, b [...] truely blessed, in singin [...] (with all the Saints and Angells) Halleluias eternally to thy most glorie [...] ▪ name,

AMEN.

FINIS.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

The day of salvation, or, A homily upon the bloody sacrifice of Christ, or his death and passion written, and intended onely for private meditation of a most noble and vertuous lady, on Good-Friday last, but since thought worthy the publique view / by Anthony Stafford ...

Stafford, Anthony.

Edition statement

1635

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A12815

ID [STC]

STC 23122

ID [STC]

ESTC S1730

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

21509421

ID [OCLC]

ocm 21509421

ID [VID]

24704

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A12815)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 24704)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1716:11)

Source

— The day of salvation, or, A homily upon the bloody sacrifice of Christ, or his death and passion written, and intended onely for private meditation of a most noble and vertuous lady, on Good-Friday last, but since thought worthy the publique view / by Anthony Stafford ..., Stafford, Anthony..

Extent

[22], 168 [i.e. 164] p.

By N. and I. Okes, for Daniel Frere at the Red Bull in Little Brittaine,. Printed at London :: 1635.. (Signatures: A¹²(-A1) B-G¹² H¹⁰.) (Errors in paging: numbers 114, 119-121 skipped in the pagination.) (Imperfect: engraved t.p. lacking; tightly bound, with slight loss of print.) (Reproduction of original in the British Library.)

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