The opinions I finde are two .

1 The first is Aben Ezras , and hee saith , That there is vespera Solis , and vespera luminis . An Evening of the Sunne , when the body of the Sunne is removed from our eyes , when that sets : and an Evening of the light , when the beames or shining of the Sunne doe also forsake us . And betwixt these two Evenings ( saith hee ) was the Paschall Lambe slaine ; which time by us is called the twilight , which by the opinion of Astronomers , doth ordinarily endure an houre and one third part .

2 The second from Rabbi David , and he is larger in his interpretation , and understands a greater latitude of Time . There is ( saith he ) vespera declinationis , and vespera occasus : An Evening of the Sunne declining , and an Evening of the Sunne setting . The Evening of the Sunne declining begins at twelue of the clock , when the Sunne is in his Altitude , in the Meridian , and so declines by degrees towards his fall . The Evening of the Sun setting what that is , wee all know : And betwixt these two Evenings , ( i. ) betwixt Noone and the Sunne setting , the Paschall Lambe ( saith he ) was to be killed . And certainely this second opinion is that which will endure the Touch-stone the best , for without question by this phrase , Betwixt the two Evenings , we are to understand such a parcell of time , wherein the dayly Evening Sacrifice might bee slaine too as well as the Paschall Lambe , for even that was commanded to bee done , inter duas vesperas , betwixt the two Evenings as well as the other , Num. 28.4 Num 28.4 . And as the Talmud reports ( if wee reckon the houres according to our ordinary computation ) the dayly Sacrifice of the Evening Lambe was usually slaine betwixt two and three , and betwixt three and foure it was offered : but upon the Passeover Eve it was slaine betwixt one and two , and offered betwixt two and three ; and the reason was , because they might have time afterwards for the slaying and offering of the Passeover : But if their Passeover Eve fell upon the Eve before their Sabbath , then their dayly Evening Sacrifice was slaine and offered an houre sooner then ordinary , that there might bee time enough both for the Passeover , and also for the preparation of their Sabbath after that . And Christ that hee might shew us that his death did comprehend all Sacrifices ( which indeed were nothing else but shadowes and types of that one and perfect Sacrifice , which hee at this time made upon the Crosse , for the sins of the whole world ) he began to be crucified in the third houre of the day , with the dayly Morning Sacrifice , and finished it at the ninth houre with the dayly Evening Sacrifice and the Paschall Lambe . Hee was both the Sacrifice of the Morning , and of the Evening : Hee was sacrificed as well for those who lived in the Morning of the world , before the Incarnation , as for all us who have lived since in the Evening , in its declining Age. Hee was the Sacrifice of the Morning and Evening , both for Young and old . Of the Morning and Evening ; for the East , and for the West , for the whole world . The Morning and the Evening Sacrifice hee was , and therefore observe how the Morning and Evening here doe meet together ( as if it had beene on purpose ) to mourne for him : and perceiving ( it seemes ) that their owne Apparell was a great deale too light and glorious to appeare in so sad a businesse , they borrow mourning garments out of the wardrobe of the Night , to wait upon the Hearse . For at that very point of Time , wherein the Morning & the Evening meet together ( which is Noone ) did the darknesse begin , which continued for three houres following : The Noone , the height and glory of the day , weares blacke at his Funerall .

Concerning this darknesse , wee are to enquire here ;

1 Of the extent of this darknesse in regard of Place , it was over all the Land , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . And there was a darknesse over all the Earth .

2 The extent of this darkenesse in regard of Time , from the sixth untill the ninth houre , from our twelve to three .

3 Wee are to enquire d●asa tenebrarum , what was the reason or cause of this darknesse : and the physicall or neerest Cause of all will appeare to be the darkning of the Sunne . For certainely this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which joynes the two verses together , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Sunne was darkened , must of necessity be a conjunction causall , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So among the Latin Poets , Virgill , who very frequently did use Graecismes ( to give ye but one example ) Audier as & fama fuit , — for quia fama fuit . As if St. Luke had said here , There was darknesse over all the Earth , for the Sunne was darkned .

Of the first ;

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is a little difference a●i● here concerning the extent of place , for there want not some who would have this darknesse not to be universall , and therefore they under●d these words , overall the earth , thus , overall the 〈◊〉 of Iudea : but I doe rather encline to the opinion of universality , and indeed mee thinks the very letter of the Text is plain enough for it , over all the Earth . And very fitly doth all the Earth weare blacke , when the Lord of all the Earth dies . Christ suffered for the whole Earth , and great reason that the whole Earth should suffer with him . When great men die , commonly ( if they leave noble heires or executors behinde them , who will bury them like themselves ) the whole Family , the whole Traine of servants mourne , and not onely three or foure who are neerest unto them . And can we suppose that our Saviour CHRIST would be so sparing and nigardly at his death , to give his Cloth to one Nation on● ? To cloath none but the Land of Israel in mourning ? Wee see that the Lord is infinite liberall even of his very light and grace , his best garments : ( Hee makes his Sunne to shine upon the bad as well as upon the good ) Surely then hee might have afforded his darknesse , his blacks , which is a Cloth of a cou●r price , at an easier rate .

I doe acknowledge that the J●wes after a more especiall manner then any other Nation had deserved this darknesse , for they had the light of Gods word , ( which the Heathen wanted ) the light of the Law and the Prophets ; nay they indeed of all other Nations might be truely called , the people of the East , for the Sunne of righteousnesse rose in their Land , the Day-spring from on high visited them in the first place ; but yet for all this ( as if too much light had made them blinde ) they could never be at rest untill they had put out the light of Israel , and drawen a thicke darknesse upon themselves , not onely this darkenesse in the letter , but also a darknesse in the Allegory , in the morall sense ; they brought a night upon their hearts , consciences , and understandings , of which that outward darknesse was but an Embleme .

But if wee take darknesse here in the last sense , in the figure , for the blinding of the eyes of the understanding , then both the opinions may very well stand together . This darknesse was over all the whole face of the Earth , and this darknesse was onely over the Land of Israel . There is not altogether such a flat opposition betwixt these two Propositions , as yee may suppose there is . I will shew ye that it is possible to reconcile them . This darknesse was onely over the land of Iudea ( i. ) it ●anne at that time onely to be over that Land , but it was then and long before too over the whole earth . For of all the multitudes of Kingdomes and Nations , there was light onely in the Land of Israel till now . They had the light of the true knowledge of God , whilst all the rest of the world lay mufled in darknesse , and therefore they having put out this light , the darknesse may bee said to be onely over them , ( the Text passing by the darkenesse of other places as a thing granted , and needing no mention ) that is , the darknesse which was generall over all the eyes of the Heathen , doth now begin onely to bee over them too ; erant tenebrae , for incip●ebant . Alas ! the Heathen ( from all Ages ) were onely guided by the weake glimmering twilight of naturall knowledge , and therefore could never find out the right way to the worship of the true God ; but every one ( according to his Fancie ) or worshipped the Gods framed by the Poets , or framed a God of his owne . They had their cheating Oracles at Delphos , Delos , and other places , where the Devill entring into the Priests , and appearing in strange extasies and furious expressions , did deliver ambiguous and deceitfull Answers to the people . They peeped many times into the entrayles of an Oxe , to see if they could finde their God there : An old weatherbeaten Oke , nor a River , nor a Spring , nor a Mountaine , nor a Wood , could scape their blind devotions ; but every one of these they beleeved had his Deity , a God belonging to it . Nay , the Aegyptians had an easier and a quainter way then all these for the making of their Gods , they sowe their Gods of seeds . The Onyons and the Leeks were worshipped amongst them : but then did the time begin when the light was taken from the Iewes them selves too , and they were left in darknesse as well as the Heathen ; Or rather , ( as when the Sunne sets to the lower Hemispheare , to our Antipodes , it rises to us ) the darkning of the Iewes was the enlightning of the Gentiles . So that this darknesse which was over all the earth for this 13 houres space , may seeme to be to the Gentiles nothing else but a fore-runner of the approaching Morning . As we observe many times how it growes darker upon a suddaine for a little space , when the morning drawes neere , as if the Night seeing no remedy but shee must depart , before shee yeelds up her dominion , should in indignation call all her strengths together , and give a Bravo to the day her enemy ) which darknesse ushers in the twy-light , and that the Sunne . For now began the Heathen to have their eyes opened , the Paynim Religion began to lose of her repute and credit , their lying Oracles ceased , and the name of Christ ( like the glorious light ) began to spread abroad amongst the Gentiles .

The learned Plutarch ( who liv'd in the raigne of the Emperour Trajane ) observing that there were no Oracles delivered in his time , nor for a good while before ( as was accustomed in former Ages ) was much troubled to finde out the reason of their Cessation . Amongst much other discourse , he falls into a disputation of the Nature of the Gods , and finding that there was a kinde of Gods which the Ancients called Demi gods , or halfe-gods , begotten of the Gods upon mortall women , which was a received opinion amongst them , that the Gods many times fell in love with women upon earth , and accompanied with them , I shall not neede to name any particulars , the writings of the Poets are full of such scapes , and a fine device it was to preserve the honour of some of their great Ladies , who were not altogether so true to their Husbands , or their vowe of Virginity as they ought to have beene , ) and finding moreover that these Dem●gods , although they liv'd long ; yet at the last dyed , was brought to conjecture , that these Gods might be they who did informe the Oracles , and at their death , the Oracles ceas'd : but had Plutarch beene truely enlightened , hee might easily have found out in an other cause of the defect of Oracles .

The same Philosopher in his booke of the defect of Oracles , inserts a memorable History of one Epitherses a Grecian , in the time of Tiberius Caesar , who making for Italy , being imbark'd in a Merchants Ship , and sayling smoothly by the Ilands called E●h●les , the Sea upon a suddaine was becalmed , so that they by little and little working themselves nigh unto Paxo , there was an high and intelligible voyce heard amongst them , calling Thamus , Thamus ; they all heard the voyce , but knew not from whence it came , and therefore a suddaine affrightment invaded them ; this Thamus ( whose name was not knowne to the greater part of the passengers ) was the Captaine of the Shipp , who hearing the voyce calling to him the third time , assumed so much courage as to answere it . Unto whom the voyce replyed ( farre lowder then before ) charging him , that as soone as hee came against the Palodes , hee should publish to the inhabitants , that the great Pan was dead . The whole company in the Ship being amazed at the strangenesse of the voyce & message , consulted amongst themselves what was best to be done ; and at the last agreed , that if the winde were faire and prosperous for their Voyage when they came against the place , they would then goe on without any stop : but if the Sea were smooth and calme , then they determined that Thamus should fulfill the command or the voyce . Which hee did , for finding it a very quiet Sea when they came thither , getting into the Sterne of the Ship ( against the Palodes ) with his face towards land , hee cryed with a loude voyce , The great Pan is dead . Which message was no sooner deliver'd , but all the company in the Shippe heard upon the suddaine a strange and confused noyse , sounding like the out-cryes and lamentations of a distressed multitude . And this Ship afterwards arriving in Italy , the report of this strange matter was soone heard of at Rome , so that e're long it came to the eare of Tiberius the Emperor , who sending for the Master of the Ship , was certified of the Truth of the rumour , and calling his wise men together , demanding of them who that great god Pan should be , was answered by them , that hee was the sonne of god Mercurie and Penelope .

Yee see what an account Plutarch gives of the death of great Pan. But if wee weigh the circumstances of the story well , wee shall finde that this voyce did signifie the death of Christ , which caus'd the Oracles to cease , and destroy'd the power of the devill . And it is not unlike but those cryes which were heard in the Palodes , were the lamentations of evill spirits , bewayling the downfall and destruction of their Kingdome . For first , this is reported to be done in Tiberius time , in whose raigne Christ was crucified , and why might it not be at the very time of his death , or immediatly after ? besides this , certaine it was that Tiberius had enquir'd and heard of Christ , and of many of his miracles , for if the Senate would have agreed to it , he would have canoniz'd him , and put him into the roll of their gods . And it is very credible , that by reason of our Saviours calling himselfe by the name of the good and the great Shepheard , the Heathens understanding it , might conclude , that it must needes be the god Pan , who was said to be the god of the Shepheards . And the great god Pan it was indeed who was dead ( taken in Christian sense ) the great Shepheard of our soules , who left those 99 above who had not err'd , and came downe to seeke and to save that One which had stray'd , poore mankinde . And from hence the silence of the Oracles , and the lamentations of evill spirits . But the strangenesse of this History related by a Heathen Writer , hath carried me a little too farre . To returne to the Text , the opinion of the best Writers is , that this darknesse was not onely over the land of Iudea , but generall , overall the earth .

The second thing we are to enquire of , is of the extent of this darknesse in respect of time : and that was from the sixth to the ninth houre , from our 12. to 3.

It began at Noone , at that point which is the most opposite to darknesse , and lasted till our three of the clocke , which time doth include the chiefe glory , strength , and manhood ( as I may call it ) of the day : For the day after three , ( like a man parting with 50. ) begins to waxe ancient , and from thence declines into a weaknesse .

The darknesse began at Noone , ( as wee may suppose ) a little after Christ was nayl'd upon the Crosse ; so that if the Spouse in the Canticles should not yet be satisfied concerning her earnest request , when shee cryed out in the first Chapter of that Song , Shew mee ( O thou whom my soule loveth , Cant. 1. ) where thou feedest , where thou lyest at Noone ; we were able to instruct her here from my Text , to tell her where her beloved lay at Noone ; Not onely at the Noone of the world , at the fulnesse of time , but also in the literall and nearer sense , at the Noone of the day . Nor is there any harshnesse in the phrase , to say , that Christ lay upon the Crosse at Noone , For Iacere situs est miserorum ; To lye is accounted the posture of those who are miserable , and therefore we use to say that Pauper ubique jacet ; The poore man lyes every where . And let all who beheld that spectacle of Christs hanging upon the Crosse , or all who have but any fancies to apprehend the manner of it , judge whether the earth was able to produce a man more poore and more miserable then he was at that time . Hee lay at Noone , the Crosse was his bed of sorrow he lay upon , the darknesse was the Curtaines drawne about him . As David sayes , Psal 18. Psal. 18. ( though in an other sense ) Hee made darknesse his secret place , and his Pavilion round about him .