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for him, shall be peculiarly honoured by him, and be employed in the highest services for him.

28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

Observe here, 1. The affliction or suffering which our Saviour complained of, and that is, thirst; there are two sorts of thirst, the one natural and proper, the other spiritual and figurative; Christ felt both at this time. His body thirsted by reason of those agonies which it laboured under. His soul thirsted in vehement desires, and fervent longings, to accomplish that great and difficult work he was now about. 2. The design and end of our Lord's complaint: That the scripture might be fulfilled, he said, I thirst. Our Saviour finding that all was accomplished, which he was to do before his death, but only the fulfilling that one scripture, Psal. Ixix. 21. They gave me vinegar to drink; he, for the accomplishment thereof, said, I thirst. Whence note, That such were the agonies and extreme sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross, that they drank up his very spirits, and made him cry, I thirst. 2. That when Christ cried out, I thirst, it was to show, that whatever was foretold by the prophets concerning him, was exactly accomplished, and even to a circumstance fulfilled in him: That the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus saith, I thirst.

30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Observe here, 1. Our Lord's last words, It is finished. 2. His last act, He bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. As to the former, his last words, It is finished, this might be the probable intendment of it: 1. It is finished; that is, now is my Father's eternal counsel concerning me accomplished, and now is the promise that he made of my becoming a sacrifice for sin fulfilled; both my Father's purpose and my Father's promise are now receiving their

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final accomplishment. 2. It is finished; that is, the scriptures are now fulfilled; the types that did prefigure me, all the prophetical predictions that were made of me, all the Jewish sacrifices that pointed at me, have now received their final accomplishment in me, and are abolished in my death. 3. It is finished, that is, my sufferings are now ended, my race is run, my work is done, I am now putting my last hand to it, my death is before me, I have finished the work, the whole work, which I came into the world for, doing as well as dying; all is upon the matter conpleted, it is just finishing, it will be instantly finished. Again, 4. It is finished: that is, the fury and malice, the rage and revenge of my enemies, is now ended, they have done their worst; the chief priests and soldiers, the judges and witnesses, the executioners and tormentors, have all tired out themselves with the exercise of their own malice; but now their spite and spleen, their envy and enmity, is ended, and the Son of God is at rest. 5. It is finished: that is, the glorious work of man's redemption and salvation is perfected and performed, consummated and completed, the price is paid, satisfaction is given, redemption is purchased, and salvation insured to a miserable world. Woe unto us, if Christ had left but one farthing of our debt to the justice of God unpaid; we must have lain in hell to all eternity, as being insolvent; but Christ has by one offering for ever perfected them that are sanctified. Learn hence, That Jesus Christ hath perfected, and completely finished, the great work of redemption committed to him by God the Father. Observe, 2. Our Saviour's last act: He bowed his head and gave up the ghost. Whence learn, The spontaneity and voluntariness of Christ's sufferings, how freely he surrendered to death; his soul was not rent from him, but yielded up to God by him; Christ was a volunteer in dying; though his death was a violent death, yet it was a voluntary sacrifice; bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

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31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath-day, (for that sabbath-day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then came the

soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs 34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true; and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. 36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

These verses contain several remarkable passages tending to the confirmation of our faith, in the belief of the certainty and reality of our Saviour's death: in which the Jews, the soldiers, and St. John, do all give their several and sufficient evidences. Observe, 1. The Jews' part in clearing up his truth they desire Pilate (who had power alone to dispose of the dead bodies of condemned persons) that the legs of the crucified persons might be broken to hasten their death, that so they might be taken away, and buried; because according to the law, (Deut. xxi. 22, 23,) the land was defiled with those that were hanged, if not timely buried: and they judged if the bodies of these persons did remain on the cross all that night, and the next sabbath-day, which was an high day, (the ordinary-sabbath, and the first day of the passover, or feast of unleavened bread, meeting together,) it might pollute both them and their feast. Whence note the cursed hypocrisy of these Jews; they look upon themselves as strictly bound to observe an outward ceremony, but their consciences never scruple to violate the most weighty precepts of the moral law; they strictly observe the ceremonial precept, that the dead bodies should not remain upon the cross, but they scruple not to crucify the Son of God, and to use him with the utmost rigour, desiring his bones may be broken. Observe, 2. The soldiers' part contributed to clear the truth of Christ's death: they execute what the Jews had desired, and Pilate granted, breaking the legs of the two thieves, but not of Jesus, because he was already dead; but one of the soldiers resolving to

make sure work, thrusts a spear into his side, and there came out straightway blood and water, proving that he was really dead. All which points out to us, that it is he who came by water and blood, 1 John v. 6. and that from the merit and efficacy of his death, there floweth out blood for the obtaining remission of sin, and water to regenerate and wash us from our uncleanness. From the barbarous soldier's piercing of Christ's side after he was dead, we learn, either dead or alive, which might testify That no cruelty was omitted to Christ the great desert of our sin, nor was there any needful evidence wanting which might make clear the truth of his death; the soldiers' piercing of our Saviour's side was at once an exercise of their cruelty, and an evidence of the certainty of Christ's death. Observe, 3. St. John's part in this evidence: he avouches, That Christ really died, and expressly affirms that he saw it with his own eyes, for the confirmation of our faith: He that saw it bare record, and his record is true. And farther shows that by these actions of the soldiers, that was done by which several scripture prophecies were fulfilled, and received their accomplishment; particularly, that of Erod. xii. 46. concerning the paschal lamb, which was a type of Christ, That a bone of it should not be broken; and that prediction, Zech. xii. 10. They shall look on him whom they have pierced. Learn hence, That Christ is the truth and substance of that type, the paschal lamb, mentioned, Exod. xii. and the true passover sacrificed for us; therefore what was ordained concerning the paschal lamb, is applied here to Christ, as the substance of that type: A bone of him shall not be broken.

38 And after this, Joseph of Arimathea, (being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews,) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. 42 There laid they Jesus therefore, because of the Jews' preparation-day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

This last paragraph of the chapter gives us an account of our Lord's honourable burial; such a funeral as never was since graves were first digged. Where observe, 1. Our Lord's body must be begged before it could be buried, the dead bodies of malefactors being in the power and at the disposal of the judge: Pilate grants it; and accordingly the dead body is taken dead, wrapped in fine linen, and prepared for the sepulchre. Observe, 2. The persons who bestowed this honourable burial upon Christ Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus; the one provided fine linen, and the other fine spices, and they jointly wound and embalmed his body after the Jewish manner; both of them worthy, though close, disciples: grace doth not always make a public and open show where it is; but as there is much secret treasure unseen in the bowels of the earth, so is there much grace in the hearts of some saints, which the world takes little notice of. We read of none of the apostles at Christ's funeral; fear had put them to flight; but Joseph and Nicodemus appeared boldly. If God strengthen the weak, and leave the strong to the prevalency of their own fears, the weak shall be as David, and the strong as tow. Observe, 3. The grave or sepulchre in which our Lord was buried it was a sepulchre in a garden, to expiate Adam's sin committed in a garden: as by the sin of the first Adam we were driven out of paradise, the garden of pleasure; so by the sufferings of a second Adam, who lay buried in a garden, we may hope for entrance into the heavenly paradise. And it was in a new sepulchre, wherein never any man was laid, lest his adversaries should say, it was another that was risen, who was buried there before; or, that he arose as one of the old prophets did, by touching the bones of some other dead person. Observe, 4. The manner of our Lord's funeral: it was hasty, public, and decent. It was hasty, by reason of the straitness of time; the sabbath was approaching, and all business is laid aside to prepare for that. Teaching us, How much it is our duty to despatch our

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worldly business early on the eve of the Lord's day; that we may be the better prepared to sanctify that day. Again, our Lord's funeral was public, and open; all persons that would, might be spectators, to cut off occasion from any to object, that there was deceit and fraud used in or about our Lord's burial; yet was he also interred decently, his holy body being wrapt in fine linen, and perfumed with spices, according to the Jewish custom. Observe, 5. The reasons why our Lord was thus buried, seeing he was to rise again in as short a time as other men lie by the walls: doubtless it was to declare the certainty of his death, and the reality of his resurrection, to fulfil the types and prophecies which went before of him; as Jonah being three days and three nights in the whale's belly. He was also buried to complete his humiliation, this being the lowest step to which he could descend in his abased state. Finally, He went into the grave, that he might conquer death in its own territories. Observe lastly, Of what use our Lord's burial is to us his followers. It shows us the amazing depth of his humiliations, from what and to what his love brought him, even from the bosom of his Father to the bosom of the grave. It may also comfort us against the fears of death; the grave could not long keep Christ, it shall not always keep us; it was a loathsome prison before, it is a perfumed bed now: he whose head is in heaven, need not to fear to put his feet into the grave. Awake, and sing, thou that dwellest in the dust, for the enmity of the grave is slain by Christ.

CHAP. XX.

This and the following chapter give us an account of our Saviour's exaltation and victorious triumph over all his enemies, by his powerful resurrection. All the four evangelists do confirm the truth of it, by recording the several steps and degrees of the manifestation of it. In this chapter Christ's resurrection is confirmed first to Mary Magdalene, next to Peter and John, then to all the disciples except Thomas.

THE first day of the week cometh

Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

In this verse is recorded how Mary Magdalene came early to the sepulchre, on the first day of the week, to anoint the dead body of our Lord Jesus. Where note, That though her heart did burn with an ar

dent zeal and affection to her crucified Lord, yet the commanded duties of the sabbath were not omitted by her; she kept close, and silently spent that holy day in a mixture of grief and hope. Her example is a good pattern of sabbath sanctification, and worthy of our christian imitation. Note, 2. What magnanimity and courage is found in this weak woman; she followed Christ courageously, when his disciples left him cowardly; she accompanied him to his cross, she followed his hearse to the grave, when his disciples durst not appear; and now very early in the morning she goes to visit his sepulchre, fearing neither the darkness of the night, nor the presence of the watchmen. Learn thence, That courage is the special gift of God, and if he gives it to the feebler sex, even to timorous and fearful women, it is not in the power of

man to make them afraid.

2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

It was a great honour that God put upon this poor woman, Mary Magdalene, that she has the first notice of our Saviour's re

surrection, and is the first that discovers it to the apostles. But why had not the Virgin Mary, his disconsolate mother, this privilege conferred on her, rather than Mary Magdalene, who had been a grievous sinner? Doubtless this was for the comfort of all true penitents, and administers great consolation to them: as the angels in heaven rejoice, much more doth Christ joy in the recovery of one repenting sinner, than in multitudes of holy and just persons, (such was the blessed Virgin,) who need no repentance.

3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4 So they ran both together and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And he, stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and

seeth the linen clothes lie; 7 And the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then went in also that other disciple which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

Here observe, 1. How Peter and John, moved with Mary Magdalene's words, They have taken away the Lord, &c. do run to the sepulchre to satisfy themselves in the truth of it. Such as sincerely love Christ, upon the least intimation that he is missing, bestir themselves with great activity and diligence, that they may see him, or hear of him: Peter and John run of their holy Master. Observe, 2. That to the sepulchre, to see what was become there was such a clear evidence about Christ's grave, as made it apparent that he was indeed risen from the dead, and not conveyed away either by friends or foes: it cannot be supposed that any of his friends (could they have come at it) would have so handled his holy body, as to carry they stole away the body, they would it away naked; and as for his foes, had

never have left the fine linen behind them. Observe, 3. That when Christ arose from the grave, he left his grave-clothes behind him;

whereas when Lazarus arose, he him. It teaches us, That Christ rose never came forth with his grave-clothes about to die more, but to live and reign for ever; therefore he left his grave-clothes in the grave, as never to make use of them more. But Lazarus was to die again, death once therefore came forth with his grave-clothes more was to have dominion over him; he about him. Observe lastly, How ignorant the apostles were of the doctrine of Christ's resurrection and of the holy scriptures, which declared he was to rise again from the dead: They knew not the scriptures; ponder them in their hearts, and feed upon that is, they did not heed and regard them, them by faith.

10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into

the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels in white, sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

Here we have a description of the great love of Mary Magdalene, which she expressed towards Christ after his resurrection; she went to his sepulchre early, when it was yet dark; she hastily calls the disciples Peter and John, to the sepulchre; and she stays behind weeping at the sepulchre when they were gone away to their own home. And as Mary first sought him, and longest sought him, so she first found him. Here note, 1. Mary's carriage and behaviour towards her Saviour: that is discovered by her patient attendance, She stood without at the sepulchre; by her passionate mourning, she stood at the sepulchre weeping; by her unwearied diligence, She stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre. Here was great love indeed in this poor woman; a love stronger than death; a love which did outstrip and go beyond the greatest apostles. Learn thence, 1. That true love to Christ suffers not itself to be stinted or limited, no, not by the greatest examples; the weakest woman that truly loves Christ, may piously strive with the greatest apostle in this point: though he be learneder, wiser, more useful, and more eminent than any of us, yet it is holy and wise not to suffer ourselves to be exceeded by any in our love to Christ; every christian may strive to exceed any one in grace, and to attain the highest place in the kingdom of heaven. Learn, 2. That strong love is valiant and undaunted, it will grapple and encounter with the strongest opposition; Mary fears nothing in seeking of her Lord, neither the darkness of the night, nor the terror of the soldiers, nor the malice of the Jews; love is as strong as death, and the flames thereof are vehement. Note farther, The success of Mary Magdalene's love to Christ, and unwearied attendance on his sepulchre; she found not the dead body of Christ, and it is well she did not; for if death could have held him, it would not have let him go. But though she found not her Lord in the grave, she found two of his servants there, two angels. Of all things in the world, one would have least expected to find an angel in the grave, spirits in the place of dead bodies, and immortality in the place of corruption. But from hence we learn, That such as sincerely

seek the Lord, shall certainly find, if not the very thing which they seek, yet that which is much fitter and better for them; Mary did not find Christ's dead body, but she finds that which is more comfortable for her to find, namely, two angels, to tes tify that he was risen. Where note, the posture of these angels described; the one sitting at the head, the other at the feet. It is a matter of comfort to the members of Christ, that angels do not wait upon the head only; but upon the feet also; and it ought to be matter of imitation also. Let us imitate our blessed Saviour in having an angel not at our head only, but at our feet also. Many have an ambition to have an angel at their head, a great measure of light and knowledge there, but they care not for an angel at their feet, they delight not to walk answerably to their light and knowledge, they have an angelical understanding and a diabolical conversation; it is sad for a man to have all his religion in his brain and tongue, and nothing in his heart and life.

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Observe here, 1. That the best company in the world will not satisfy or content such as are seeking for Jesus Christ, when they find not him whom their souls seek: Mary now enjoyed the presence and company of two angels, but this did not satisfy her in the absence of Christ himself. Observe, 2. How passionately did Mary mourn for the loss and want of Christ's bodily presence, thereby giving testimony of her great affection towards him; but truly our love to Christ is best shown, not by our passionate desires for his bodily presence, but by our holy longings after his spiritual presence in his word and ordinances here on earth,and

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