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They parted my garments a∣mong them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots,
Mat. 27.35.
VVAs there ever a fairer distribution of such sa∣crilegious plunder? yet who but a Prophet could have thought, that those Robes which ap∣parelled the Son of God, should ever have cloath'd such impious varlets?
They parted his garments a∣mong them,] There may be Rents, Sects and Divisions in
the Church, among the visi∣ble members thereof; but the seamless Vesture, Truth, the Churches pure and unblemish∣able Ornament, maugre the prophanest violence of the rudest Soldier, shall ever re∣main inviolably whole, perfect and intire. Naked wretches! what covert gave these Orna∣ments to your shameful infide∣lity? what beauty to your de∣formity? what lustre to your ugliness? you embrace a Sha∣dow, and let the Substance vanish.
No wonder the members are left naked, when the body is devested: But are these ig∣norant Soldiers the onely
mistaken creatures? are there not others who wear Christs Livery, yet crucifie their Sa∣vior? none who put him to death, that they may part his garments among them? none that wear the costly Orna∣ments of Ceremonial Wor∣ship, yet are naked in regard of the true Ornament of Faith, and the living object thereof? Are there none that rest upon duties, yet murther their Christ in their daily practice? no hy∣pocrites, that put on the out∣side of Religion, yet line it with Martyr-Scarlet? none that garb themselves accord∣ing to the season of the times, and temper of Promotions
Clime, wearing that Religion which is most in fashion, though never so unbeseem∣ing the quality of a true Christian, or unfit for the soul that wears it, cutting the size of their Conscience by the measure of their ambiti∣on, not their Religion by the rule of Gods Word? Are there none who seem to put on Christs Livery at every du∣ty, at every Sermon, on every Sabbath, yea at every meal, yet devest themselves of the garments of his Righteous∣ness? Thus all the world's mistaken: The Soldier's was an ignorant mistake, but ours a wilful; they left the sub∣stance
for the shadow, we take the shadow for the substance: What's the difference? they crucified one Christ, we new make another; they out of the rude deportment incident to their profession, part among them his garments whom they crucified; we, by the dirt of our hypocritical performances, bespatter his garments whom we profess to hallow: All which is now come to pass, that it might indeed be fulfilled what was spoken by the Prophet, They parted my garments among them, and on my vesture did they cast lots, Psal. 22.18.