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SERM. XXVI. "land of Canaan was divided to the Ifraelites, Acts xiii. 19, "Sin makes mercy to deadly hard to bring forth. To chriften "every precious child, every Benjamin, Benoni, every fon of "God's right-hand, a fon of forrow and death to her that brings him forth. Adam's fweets had no bitter till he tranfgreffed God's will: one mercy did not die to bring forth ano"ther, till he died. But oh how fhould this raise the value "of our mercies? What, the price of blood, the price of pre"cious blood, the blood of the crofs ! O what an esteem should "this raife!

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"Things (as the fame ingenious author adds) are prized ra"ther as they come, than as they are. Far fetched and dear bought makes all the price, and gives all the worth with us "weak creatures. Upon this ground the fcripture, when it speaks "of our great fortune, tells the great price it coft, as eying our "weakness, who look more at what things coft, than at what "they are. And as knowing if any thing will take with us, this will, "To him that loved us, and washed us from our fins in "his own blood," Rev. i. 5.

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"Man is a legal creature, and looks much at what is given "for a thing. What did this coft? Why, it coft Chrift's own "blood. Colour is more than the cloth with us, and fcarlet "colour is a general taking colour, with us: and therefore is "Chrift's garment dipped in blood, and he admired in this ha"bit." "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with garments "dyed red from Bozra?"

Beware then you abuse not any of the mercies that Chrift brought forth with fo many bitter pangs and throws. And let all this endear Chrift more than ever to you, and make you in a deep fenfe of his grace and love, to say,

Thanks be to God for Jefus Chrift.

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Opens and improves that fignal Providence, which directed and ordered the Title affixed to the Cross of CHRIST.

LUKE Xxiii. 38. And a Superfcription alfo was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: This is the King of the Jews.

BEFOR

EFORE I pafs on to the manner of Chrift's death, I shall confider the title affixed to the crofs; in which very much of the wifdom of Providence was difcoved. It was the manner of the Romans, that the equity of their proceedings might the more clearly appear to the people, when they crucified any man, to publish the cause of his death, in a table written in capital letters, and placed over the head of the crucified. And that there might be at least, a fhew and face of juftice in Christ's death, he alfo fhall have his title or fuperfcription.

The worst and most unrighteous actions labour to cover and fhroud themfelves under pretenfion of equity. Sin is so shameful a thing, that it cares not to own its name. Chrift fhall have a table written for him alfo. This writing one evange lifts calls the accufation, atia, Matth. xxvii. 37. Another calls it the Title, hos, John xix. 19. Another the Infcription or Superfcription, sypan, fo the text. And another the SuperJcription of his Accufation, ezypa¶n ons ditias, Mark. xv. 26. In fhort, it was a fair legible writing, intended to exprefs the fact or crime, for which the perfon died.

This was their usual manner, though fometimes we find it was published by the voice of the common cryer. As in the cafe of Attalus the martyr, who was led about the amphitheatre, one proclaiming before him, This is Attalus the Chriftian. But it was customary and usual to exprefs the crime in a written table, as the text expreffes it. Wherein these three things offer themselves to your confideration.

First, The character or defcription of Chrift, contained in that writing. And he is described by his kingly dignity: † This is

*Eufeb. Ecclef. Hift. lib. 5. c. I.

The full title was, This is Jefus of Nazareth the King of the Jews. Par.

360 the King of the Jews. That very office, which but a little before, they had reproached and derided, bowing the knee to him in mockery, faying, Hail King of the Jews: the Providence of God fo orders, it, that therein he thall be vindicated and honoured. This is the King of the Jews: Or, as the other evan gelifts complete it, This is Jefus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.

Secondly, The perfon that drew his character or title. It was Pilate; he that but now condemned him: he that was his judge, fhall be his herald, to proclaim his glory. For the title is honourable. Surely, this was not from himfelf, for he was Chrift's enemy; but rather than Chrift fhould want a tongue to clear him, the tongue of an enemy shall do it.

Thirdly, The time when this honour was done him: It was when he was at the lowest ebb of his glory; when thame and reproach were heaped on him by all hands? When all the dif ciples had forfaken him, and were fled. Not one left to proclaim his innocency, or fpeak a word in his vindication. Then doth the providence of God as ftrangely, as powerfully, overrule the heart and pen of Pilate *, to draw this title for him, and affix it to his crofs. Surely we must look higher than Pilate in this thing, and fee-how Providence ferves itself by the hands of Chrift's adverfaries. Pilate writes in honour of Christ, and ftiffly defends it too. Hence our obfervation is,

Doct. 1. That the dignity of Christ was openly proclaimed, and defended by an enemy; and that, in the time of his greatest reproaches and fufferings.

To open this myflery of providence to you, that you may not ftand idly gazing upon Chrift's title, as many then did; we muft, First, Confider the nature and quality of this title. Secondly, What hand the providence of God had in this matter. Thirdly, And then draw forth the proper ufes and improve ments of it.

First, To open the nature and quality of Chrift's title or infcription; let it be thoroughly confidered, and we shall find,

Firft, That it was an extraordinary title, varying from all examples of that kind; and directly crofling the main defign and

* Perhaps the title was written according to custom, but our thoughts must rise higher, even to the purpose of God, who would, by the writing of Pilate, have Chrift publicly proclaimed King of the church. Par.

end of their own cuftom. For, as I hinted before, the end of it was to clear the equity of their proceedings, and thew the people how justly they fuffered thofe punifhments inflicted on them for fuch crimes. But lo, here is a title expreffing no crime at all, and fo vindicating Chrift's innocency*. This fome of them perceived, and moved Pilate to change it, not, This is, but, This is he that faid, I am the King of the Jews. In that, as they conceived, lay his crime. O how ftrange and wonderful a thing was this! But what shall we fay! it was a day of wonders and extraordinary things. As there was never fuch a perfon crucified before, fo there was never fuch a title affixed to the crofs before.

Secondly, As it was an extraordinary, fo it was a public title, both written and published with the greatest advantages of fpreading itself far and near, among all people, that could be, "for it was written in three languages †, and to those most

known in the world at that time." The Greek tongue was then known in most parts of the world. The Hebrew was the Jews native language. And the Latin the language of the Gentiles. So that it being written both in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, it was easy to be understood both by Jews and Gentiles.

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And indeed, unto this the providence of God had a special eye, to make it notorious and evident to all the world; for even fo all things defigned for public view, and knowledge were written. Jofephus tells us of certain pillars, on which was engraven in letters of Greek, and Latin, "It is a wickednefs for ftrangers to enter into the holy place ‡," So the foldiers of Gordian, the third emperor, when he was flain upon the borders of Perfia, they raised a monument for him, and engraved his memorial upon it, in Greek, Latin, Perfic, Judaic, and Egyptiac letters, that all people might read the fame. And as it was written in three learned languages, fo it was expofed to view in a public place; and at that time, when multitudes of strangers, as well as Jews, were at Jerufalem? it was at the time of the paffover; fo that all things concurred to spread and divulge the innocency of Chrift, vindicated in this title.

Thirdly, as it was a public, fo it was an honourable title.

*This was very remarkable, that a title was affixed which imported no ignominy. Calvin.

↑ Tribus linguis toto orbe tunc vulgatiffimis, fcribi voluit; ut ab omnibus legi, et intelligi potuit.

Pareus.

In locum fanctum ingredi alienigenis nefas eft. VOL. I.

Z Z

SERM. XXVII. Such was the nature of it, faith Bucer; that in the midst of death, Chrift began to triumph by it. And by reafon thereof, the cross began to change its own nature, and instead of a rack, or engine of torture, it became a throne of majesty. Yea, it might be called now, as the church itself is, The pillar and ground of truth; for it held out much of the gofpel, much of the glory of Chrift; as that pillar doth, to which a royal proclamation is affixed.

Fourthly, It was a vindicating title: it cleared up the honour, dignity, and innocency of Chrift, against all the false imputations, calumnies, and blafphemies, which were caft upon him before, by the wicked tongues, both of Jews and Gentiles.

They had called him a deceiver, an ufurper, a blafphemer, they rent their cloaths, in token of their deteftation of his blafphemy; because he made himself the Son of God, and King of Ifrael. But now in this, they acknowledged him to be both Lord and Saviour. Not a mock king, as they had made him before: So that herein the honour of Chrift was fully vindicated.

Fifthly, Moreover it was a predicting and presaging title †. Evidently forefhewing the propagation of Chrift's kingdom, and the spreading of his name and glory among all kindreds, nations, tongues, and languages. As Chrift hath right to enter into all the kingdoms of the earth, by his gofpel, and fet up his throne in every nation: fo it was prefaged by this title that he fhould do fo. And that both Hebrews, Greeks, and Latins, fhould be called to the knowledge of him. Nor is it a wonder, that this should be predicted by wicked Pilate, when Caiaphas himself, a man every way as wicked as he, had prophefied to the fame purpose, John xi. 51, 52. For being High-priest that year, he prophefied, That Jefus fhould die for that nation, and not for that nation only, but that alfo he should gather together in one, the children of God that were fcattered abroad. Yea, many have prophefied in Chrift's name, who, for all that, shall never be owned by him, Matth. vii. 22.

Sixthly, And lastly, It was an immutable title. The Jews endeavoured, but could not perfuade Pilate to alter it. To all their importunities, he returns this refolute anfwer, "What I "have written, I have written;" as if he fhould fay, Urge me

*Bucer in loc.

He would have it written in three languages, that this might be a prefage of the future calling, not only of all the Hebrews, but alfo of all the Gentiles to the kingdom of Chrift. Par.

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