THis Day , this saddest of dayes , our Sweetest Saviour , ( who not 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 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 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 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 ; 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 , 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 , 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 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 : 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 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 , 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 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 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 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● 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 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 , 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 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 , 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 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 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 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 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 , 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 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 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 , 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 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 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 ▪ 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 , 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 , 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● 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 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 ▪ 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 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 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 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 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 . 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 , 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 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 , he bestowes this most familiar , this most deare title of friend . * Such Friends as Oamici , 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 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 . 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 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 , 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 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● 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 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 , 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 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 , 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 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 , 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 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● ( 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 ▪ 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 .