A Pisgah-sight of Palestine and the confines thereof with the history of the Old and New Testament acted thereon / by Thomas Fuller ...

CHAP. XII. The mysteries of mount Calvary.

§ 1. SUburbs in Cities are like Suckers in trees,* 1.1 which make them bigger, but not better; so that much of the strength of the City leaks out in such Excresences. Ierusalem therefore had no suburbs at all, but many pleasant mountains and gardens about it. We will begin with mount Calvary, and the passage thereunto, commonly called the dolorous way, (though thence came all our comfort) traced with the blessed feet of our Saviour, who suffered without the gate. This we are now to describe, and ô that our patience and practise might goe along with our pen! to observe our Saviours motion, according to the counsell of the Apostle,a 1.2 Let us goe forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

§ 2. This dolorous way began at Gabbatha or the Pavement:* 1.3 wherein we may take notice of a wild piece of justice in Pilate, first scourging, then crucifying Christ. If his offence was but criminall to deserve scourging, why was he crucified? If so capitall as to deserve crucifying, why scourged? Perhaps Pilate hoped by his scourging to satisfie the malice of the Iews, but in vain. For it was not the back-bloud, but the heart-bloud of Christ must satisfie their thirst. So that what might be pity in the intent of Pilate, proved cruelty in the event to Christ; whose bitter cup hereby was twice filled. Thus we commit double-folded, twisted, and complicated sins, which our Saviour expiated with dupli∣cated suffering, first scourged, then crucified.

§ 3. Hence being condemned heb 1.4 bare his own Cross part of the way,* 1.5 towards the place of execution, according to the custome of male∣factours (and we know what Furcifer inports in the naturall significa∣tion thereof) untill, it seems, at last he fainted under the burden thereof; whereof severall reasons are assigned.

• 1 Probably the Iews malice provided him a Cross of extraordina∣ry greatness, proportionable to the reputed offendour Para∣mount.
• 2 He was much debilitated with his long watching and sweating the night before.
• 3 The edges of the Cross grating his late whip-furrowed back, might occasion the new bleeding of his wounds, and his weak∣ning thereby.
• 4 He bare withall the invisible weight of the sins of mankind, and Gods anger for the same.

Hereupon a substitute or surrogate was provided for him to bear his Cross, not out of any mercy, but the deeper malice of his enemies; part∣ly

thereby to reprieve him to a more publick death; not willing he should die under, to cover him from shame, but upon the Cross, to ex∣pose him to the greater ignominy: partly, because they were loath he should goe away so easily as in a fainting fit, and therefore their cruell kindness reserved him for a more painfull death.

§ 4. Simon of Cyrene is the person by them compelled to bear his Cross.* 1.6 Had it been foretold that one Simon should have carried Christs Cross, and had one heard Simon Peter so lately, so solemnly promising,c 1.7 though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee, he would hence have certainly concluded him the party for that service. But it fell out far otherwise; whilest that Simon had forsaken his Master (and now was bewailing his fault) another of that name is found out, coming out of the field, to carry the Cross before him. Let Heraulds then boast of mens bearing, and their blazing of armes, (empty huskes where the kernell of vertue is wanting) behold here a rich bearing indeed; A Cross proper carried by Simon for our Saviour. We must buckle our selves in like manner for the same burden, patiently to undergoe afflictions. The best is, our Crosses are made hollow, being greater in bulk then in burden; seeing the Cross of our Crosses, eternall damnation, is taken off by the suffer∣ing of our Saviour.

§ 5. And now Christ comes to the place of execution,* 1.8 called Golgotha or mount Calvary, that is, a place of a skull. Either from the fashion there∣of, because that hill was rounded up in the form of a mans head, or be∣cause mens bones were scattered thereabouts. Tremellius with great pro∣bability conceives this Calvary called the hilld 1.9 Gareb in Ieremy, being de∣scribed to lie near the valley of the dead bodies. Here our blessed Saviour in a publick place, with infamous company, (who lived amongst Publicanes, and dyed betwixt theeves) after a cruell manner was despightfully cru∣cified. In whose sufferings we may observe

§ 6. The length thereof,* 1.10 lasting six tedious houres, exposed all that time both to hunger and cold. Indeed the theeves were longer in suffering, both being stille 1.11 alive when Christ expired: but they endured but per∣sonall pain, whilest he underwent miseries for all mankind; so that what his Passion lacked in the length, it had in

§ 7. The breadth thereof:* 1.12 extended over all the parts and powers of his soul and body. No part free from pain, save his tongue, left at liberty to pray for his enemies. His senses all suffered, namely

• 1 Seeing, tormented with the scornfull gestures, and reproach∣full postures of such as passed byf 1.13 wagging the head, to expiate the lascivious, envious, covetous glances of our eyes.
• 2 Hearing, grieved with the taunts, jeers, and wilfullg 1.14 mistakes of the Priests and people: so to satisfie for the pleasures our eares have taken in lustfull Sonnets, wanton jests, and other vain and wicked delights.
• ...

• 3 Smelling, offended with such savours as may well be presumed to be none of the best, in the place of a skull, to make amends for our luxurie in sents and perfumes.
• 4 Tasting. For when he cried out, I thirst, (and sorrowes we say are dry) they provided him a potion ofh 1.15 gall and vineger; so to repair Gods justice offended with our gluttony and drunken∣ness.
• 5 Touching, his hands and feet being pierced with the nailes, to ex∣piate the rapin and violence of our hands, the swiftness of our feet in the way of wickedness, with the manifold sins, which that sense in us committeth.

What shall I speak of his head pierced with Thornes, so to make satis∣faction for the profane plots and projects, the wicked machinations of our brains? And it is worth our observing, that though the Scarlet Robe (put on him to act in that Princely Pageant) was taken from him, (as of some value, no pain, and too good to be spoiled) yet the Crown of Thornes, painfull to him, and profitable to no other, was, (for ought we finde) continued on his head, all the time of his passion. In a word, it is hard to say, whether his pain was more shamefull, or his shame more painfull unto him: the exquisiteness of his bodily temper, increasing the exquisiteness of his torment, and the ingenuity of his Soul, adding to his sensibleness of the indignities, and affronts offered unto him.

§ 8. Thirdly,* 1.16 depth. His passion was as deep as Hell it self, induring tortures in his wounded Conscience to the apprehension of a desertion; witness his Exclamation, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me! not that really he was forsaken, or totally conceived so, shewing his faith in the deepest of his distress. For as when twins in the womb of Tamar strove which should come first into the world, the* 1.17 mid-wise adjudged the Primogeniture unto him that first put forth his hand, as a champion chall••nging his birth-right: so in this expression of our Saviours, wherin Faith and Fear did contest for the priority, Faith must be esteem∣ed the heir and eldest, first putting forth his hand, My God; yea both his hands, My God, my God, claiming by that gemination a double interest in Gods fatherly affection.

§ 19. Lastly,* 1.18 the height: as high as heaven, because the person indu∣ring it was both innocent and infinite. Innocent; such he must be to effect our redemption,i 1.19 without blemish and without spot, otherwise had blurred fingers come to rub off, or wipe out the blot in mans nature, thereby it had been made the bigger: Infinite, being no less then the Son of God, which gave infinite worth and valuation to his sufferings. O then that we might be able to comprehend with all Saints, what is thek 1.20 breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and might know the Love of Christ that passeth knowledge, so infinite every way were the dimensions thereof.

§ 10. And now he had left all he had to be severally disposed of to persons most proper to receive them,* 1.21 as namely his

• 1 Purse (and his own price therein) to Iudas, who bare the l 1.22 bag.
• 2 Peace unto his disciples, and the godly their successours: My m 1.23 peace I leave unto you.
• 3 Prayers to his enemies for their pardon: Father forgiven 1.24 them, they know not what they doe.
• 4 Wardrobe to the souldiers, who parted his raiment amongst them, and on his vesture did cast lots.
• 5 Mother to Iohn the beloved disciple:o 1.25 Woman behold thy Son.
• 6 Body to Joseph of Arimathea, who afterwardsp 1.26 begged, and (with Nicodemus) embalmed and buried it.
• 7 Soul to God:q 1.27 Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit.

These things thus disposed of, he bowed his head, partly in submission to Death the messenger, but more in homage to God the sender, and not by violent compulsion, but voluntary susception of death, gave up the ghost. So ended our Saviours satis••••ing sufferings, as redeemer of mankind; though his sympathizing sufferings, as mysticall head of the Church, are still behind,r 1.28 and are daily filled up with the afflictions of his servants. I say his compassion daily remains and increaseth, though his passion was then, and there ended, according to his own expression,s 1.29 It is finished.

§ 11. Say not that the arrears thereof,* 1.30 and another reckoning re∣mained, because presently after, one pierced his side, out of which came water and bloud. For this added to their malice, not his misery: accor∣ding to that expression,t 1.31 Be not afraid of those that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can doe; all cruelties to breathless corps amount to just nothing, and injuries to the dead though figures on the account of the offerers, yet are but cyphers on the score of the sufferers.

§ 12. Near mount Calvary was a garden,* 1.32 and in that garden a rock, and in that rock a grave, which Ioseph of Arimathea had provided for himself. This was fashionable in that age to make their monu∣ments in their gardens, so to retrench their wanton thoughts with me∣ditations of mortality. Thus pleasure, poison in it self, is made whol∣some, when well corrected with thoughts of our latter end; yea graves and green herbs make a good medly, seeingn 1.33 all flesh is grass, and the glory of man as the flower thereof, which withereth and falleth away. Here our Saviour was intombed, in aw 1.34 sepulchre bewen in stone, wherein never man be∣fore was laid; it being fit, that as he was born of a virgin-wombe, he should be buried in a virgin-tombe. It was also Iosephsx 1.35 own tombe, intended for his proper interment. Such our Saviours poverty, that as he lived in lended houses, so he was buried in a borrowed sepulchre, being rather a tenant, then owner thereof. To make sure work, the grave was shut with a great stone, the stone fastned with a solemn seal,

the seal guarded with a watch of souldiers; though all in vain. For all their solicitous care to suppress his resurrection, did but render it more conspicuous, and free it from all suspicion of forgery.

§ 13. Sure they did binde,* 1.36 but loose they did finde. For on the third day an Angell came down from heaven, causing a great earth-quake; as if the earth, like a guilty malefactor, trembled with feare, for its for∣mer boldness, that being made Gods footstool, it presumed to be his prison. This earth-quake begat a second in the heart of the souldiers▪ who frighted with fear ran all away, our Saviour being former∣ly risen out of his sepulchre. For the stone was noty 1.37 rolled away by the Angell to give his body passage out, but to give the disciples eyes pas∣sage into the grave, to behold the reality of his resurrection: otherwise he, who came in when thez 1.38 door, could come out when the grave was shut. A••t••rwards he attested his rising from the dead, by his manifold appari••ions in sundry places to severall persons, as is largely recorded in the Gospell.

§ 14. However the Priests to palliate the matter,* 1.39 possess the people, and prevent the propagation of the repo••t, endeavoured by thei•• money (their coin being better then their cause) whereby they had compassed the death, thereby also to hinder the beliefe of his resurrection. Though their seal on his grave was broken, they hoped to s••t a firmer on the lips of the souldiers, bribing them for the silence of the truth, and disper∣sing an improbable lye, that the Disciples came by night whilest they slept, and stole him away. It is admirable that such a falshood confuting it self (for if they were asleep, how could they discover them? if awake, why did they not resist them?) should by Gods permission make it passage so fast, so far, and so firme in the beliefe of the Iews. Here taking the devill (thea 1.40 father of all lies) to be father thereof, it is worth our observing in the very words of theb 1.41 Evangelist

• 1 The mother of the lie, the brains of the Pharisees: they taught.
• 2 The nurse thereof, the tongues of the souldiers: they did as they were taught.
• 3 The wages of the nurse, ready paiment: so they took the money.
• 4 The well-batling of the babe, it grew very great: For it is common∣ly reported amongst the Iews.
• 5 The long life thereof, lasting longer then sixteen hundred years, unto this day.

And it is to be feared it will live next day, next moneth, next year, many years, if God be not more mercifull in convincing their erroneous judge∣ments. Thus it is just in heavens proceedings to suffer the posterity to be poisoned, for the wilfull default of the parents.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The dolorous way.
• a 1.2

  Heb. 13. 13.
• * 1.3

  The wild justice of Pilate.
• b 1.4

  Ioh. 19. 16.
• * 1.5

  Reasons of Christs fain∣ting under the Cross.
• * 1.6

  Simon of Cyrene bearing Christs Cross.
• c 1.7

  Mat. 26. 35.
• * 1.8

  Mount Calvary why so called.
• d 1.9

  Ier. 31. 39.
• * 1.10

  The length of Christs passion.
• e 1.11

  Joh. 19. 32.
• * 1.12

  The breadth thereof.
• f 1.13

  Mat. 23. 39.
• g 1.14

  Mat. 27. 49.
• h 1.15

  Joh. 19. 30.
• * 1.16

  The depth thereof.
• * 1.17

  Gen. 38. 28.
• * 1.18

  The height thereof.
• i 1.19

  1 Pet. 1. 19.
• k 1.20

  Ephes. 3. 18.
• * 1.21

  The sevenfold division of Christs goods.
• l 1.22

  Ioh. 13. 29.
• m 1.23

  Ioh. 14. 27.
• n 1.24

  Luk. 23. 34.
• o 1.25

  Ioh. 19. 26.
• p 1.26

  Luk. 23. 52.
• q 1.27

  Luk. 23. 46.
• r 1.28

  Col. 1. 24.
• s 1.29

  Io••. 19 30.
• * 1.30

  Dead corps may be wron∣ged, but not hurt.
• t 1.31

  Luk. 12. 4.
• * 1.32

  Christ buried in Iosephs se∣pulchre.
• n 1.33

  1 Pet. 1. 24.
• w 1.34

  Luk. 23. 53.
• x 1.35

  Mat. 27. 60.
• * 1.36

  Christs resur∣rection.
• y 1.37

  M••t. 28. 2.
• z 1.38

  Ioh. 20. 26.
• * 1.39

  Endevoured in vain to be si∣lenced.
• a 1.40

  Ioh. 8. 44.
• b 1.41

  Mat. 28. 15.