For he intended to have kept him much longer under torments. And it was the cruel counsel of another to his executioner; Let him die so, as he may feel himself how he dies. And surely in this respect it was worse for Christ, than any other that was ever nailed to the Tree. For all the while he hanged there, he remain∣ed full of life, and acute sence. His life departed not gradually, but was whole in him to the last. Other men die gradually, and towards their end their sence of pain is much blunted. They faul∣ter, fumble, and expire by degrees; but Christ stood under ••he pains of death in his full strength. His life was whole in him. This was evident by the mighty outcry he made, when he gave up the Ghost. Which argued him then to be full of strength, con∣trary to the experience of all other men. Which made the Cen∣turion when he heard it, to conclude; Surely this was the Son of God, Mark. 15.37, 39.
Sixthly, It was a succourless and helpless death to Christ. Some∣times they gave to malefactors amidst their torments, Vinegar, and Myrh to blunt, dull, and stupifie their Sences. And if they hang∣ed long, would break their bones, to dispatch them out of their pains. Christ had none of this favour. Instead of Vinegar and Myrh, they gave him Vinegar and Gall to drink, to aggravate his torments. And for the breaking of his bones, he prevented it, by dying before they come to break his legs. For the Scriptures must be fulfilled, which saith, not a bone of him shall be broken.
This now was the kind and nature of that death he died. Even the violent, painful, shameful, cursed, slow, and succourless death of the Cross. An Ancient punishment both among the Romans and Carthaginians. But in honour of Christ, who died this death, Constantine the great abrogated it by Law, ordaining that none should ever be Crucified any more, because Christ died that Death.
[ 2] Secondly, As to the manner of the execution. They that were condemned to the death of the Cross, (saith a Learned Antiquary of our own,) bare their Cross upon their own shoulders, to the place of execution. Then was stript of all their cloaths, for they suffered naked. And then were fastned to the Cross with nails.
The manner how that was done, one gives us in these words, They stretch him out (meaning Christ) like another Isaac upon his own burden, the Cross; that so they might take measure of the holes. And though the Print of his blood upon it, gave them