VERS. XLII.

CHrist is now upon the Cross, as old Joseph was in the Prison between two Male∣factors. There, one of them was delivered, the other hanged: Here, one ob∣tains salvation the other perisheth. The Faith of this Thief is admirable; kept even pace with that of the Apostles, if in some circumstances it did not go beyond it. The Apostles acknowledged Jesus to be the Messiah: and so doth he; with this addition which I question whether they did so clearly own and know or no: viz. that Christ should reign and have his Kingdom after his death. He seems to have a sounder judg∣ment concerning Christ's Kingdom, than the Apostles themselves, as may be gathered from their question, Acts I. 6.

It pleased God in this last Article of time to glorifie the riches of his grace in a sin∣gular and extraordinary manner, both in the conversion of a sinner, and the forgiveness of his sins. I say in such an Article of time which the world had never before seen, nor ever was like to see again, viz. in the very instant wherein the Messiah was finishing his redemption. It was not unknown to either of the Thieves that Jesus was therefore condemn'd to dye, because he had professed himself the Christ: Hence that of the Im∣penitent Malefactor, If thou art Christ, save thy self and us. And if the Penitent Thief did for a while joyn with the other in his petulant reproaches (which seems intimated to us Matth. XXVII. 44.) yet was his heart toucht at length, and perhaps, upon his ob∣servation of that miraculous darkness which at that time had covered the world.