Hebdomada magna, or The great weeke of Christs passion. Handled by way of exposition upon the fourth article of the Apostles Creed: He suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, buried. / By John Crompe, Master of Arts of C.C.C. in Cambridge, and vicar of Thornham in Kent. First preached in his parish church, and now enlarged as here followes for more publike use.

Buryed.

THe utmost point and period of the sufferings and death of Christ, and the last degree of the dejection and humi∣liation of his assumed humanity; is reckoned by the ge∣nerall consent of most and best Divines to be his buriall: that is, when after his death, his body like other mens, was laid into the ground; that so men might see and know that hee was dead indeed: according as it was foretold of him, That he should make his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no wickednesse; neither was any deceit in

his mouth: Esay 59.3. For as Jonas was three dayes and three nights in the Whales belly, so shall the Sonne of man be in the heart of the earth, saith he of himselfe: Matth. 12.40. For the better record of the truth of which prophesies, all the foure Evangelists have reported and set downe the manner of it; as yee may finde in them, if you please to have recourse unto them: Saint John shall serve for my purpose in this place, as being some∣what larger in some circumstances then the rest, who describes the order of Christs buriall in this sort. After the death of him, (saith he) Joseph of Arimathea besought Pilate that hee might take downe the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him licence. He came then and tooke Jesus body. And there came also Nico∣demus, and brought Myrrhe and Aloes, mingled together about an hundred pound. Then tooke they the body of Jesus, and wrapped it in linnen cloathes, with the odours; as the manner of the Jewes is to bury. And in that place where Jesus was crucified was a Garden, and in the Garden a new Sepulchre, wherein man was never yet layd. There then layd they Jesus, because of the Jewes preparation day; for the Sepulchre was neare; John 19.38, 39, 40, 41, 42. verses.

Where yee see then a large description of the solemnity of his buriall; in which wee may observe, that though his enemies did crucifie him, and put him to death; yet his friends onely take care to bury him, and have him decently interred. Which argues the sincerity of their affection towards him; though as yet they durst not openly confesse him for feare of the Jewes. And it was more fittingly done by these, then it could have beene done by his knowne Disciples; because, as Saint Austin saith, Si Apo∣stoli sepelirent eum; dicerent non sepultum quem Judaei nunciave∣rant raptum: The world might have beene apt to beleeve that he had never beene buried at all, seeing the Jewes gave out that he was stollen away. And because he dyed to save other men, it was but reason he should be laid in another mans grave. Ʋt quid enim illi propria sepultura, qui in se propriam non habebat mor∣tem? saith the same Austin: For why should he have a Sepul∣cher of his owne, to whom death nor buriall did not properly belong? Ʋt quid illi tumulus in terris; cujus sedes manebat in coelis? Or, why should he looke for a Tombe on earth, whose habitati∣on and abiding place was onely in Heaven? neither indeed had he

any: For Saint Matthew tells us, that Joseph laid him in his owne new Tombe, which hee had hewne out in the Rock: Matth. 27.60. And thus much briefly of the manner of Christs buriall.

The causes thereof is the next thing to be considered; which are assigned by Writers upon this subject to bee diverse. I wi l prosecute onely some few of the chiefe, and so conclude. The first whereof shall be this, (viz.) That the truth of his death might thereby be manifested and confirmed. For living men use not to be buried, but only such a•• are dead. To which purpose also some other parts and passages of his Passion may be urged and alleadg∣ed As that a Souldier thrust a speare into his side. That he was taken downe from the Crosse, so soone as they perceived him to be dead indeed. That they annoynted and imbalmed him to the buriall, and wrapped him in linnen clothes; and the like. For as by touching, handling, and seeing of him; as also by his eating of broyled fish afterwards, and part of an honey-combe; we conclude the truth of his Resurrection: so by these other circumstances, the truth of his death.

Secondly, that in his Grave he might bury all our sinnes; for which that curse was imposed on us: In pulverem reverteris, Thou shalt returne to dust: Gen. 3.19. For as Aquinas well ob∣serves, Sinne hath brought upon us, not onely infirmities and afflictions in the time of our lives; but defects also even after our death, aswell in our bodies as our soules. In our soules, to de∣scend to the lowest Lake, contrary to the nature of spirituall essen∣ces; which should ascend rather to the highest heavens: and in our bodies, to returne againe to the earth from whence they were taken; contrary to the Law of our Creation, which was to have beene so quickned by the spirit of life, as not to have died at all; but to have liv'd together with the soule for ever.

Now this defect of our bodies, is to bee considered (as our School-man speakes) Secundum positionem, & secundum resolu∣tionem; either according to its position, or resolution. Its posi∣tion, is onely to be laid in the ground; Its resolution, is also to be dissolved into the first elements of which it was compacted and composed. The former of these Christ would, & did undergoe, but not the latter; according to that of the Psalmist: Non dabis san∣ctum tuum videre corruptionem; Thou shalt not suffer thy holy

One to see corruption: (viz. by the putrefaction of his body) Psal. 16.10.

The reason whereof is this; because as the matter or materi∣als of Christs body comming from the nature of man; was in regard thereof to be returned to 'its proper and accustomed place under the ground: (Locus enim corporibus debetur secundum ma∣teriam praedominantis elementi; that is, Place is due to bodies ac∣cording to the matter of the predominant element, which is Earth.) So the frame and composure of his body, comming not from man; but from the vertue, and power, and workemanship of the Holy Ghost, was not to be dissolved: neither would he, or did he undertake it; because herein he was singular, and diffe∣red from other men. Thus farre Aquinas.

Thirdly, hee was therefore buried, to shew that wee by Bap∣tisme are buried with him into death; (as the Apostle speaketh) that like as hee was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so wee also should walke in newnesse of life: Rom. 6.4.

Fourthly, he was buryed and rested in his grave the whole day of the Jewes Sabbath, that he might sanctify an eternall Sabbath of rest unto his children, unto which although they were at first created; yet (by reason of sinne and the Devils malice) they had been deprived, unlesse he had dyed and been thus buryed to restore it againe unto them.

Fifthly, he was buryed, to the end that he might hallow the earth by his sacred body, to become a receptacle of rest for the receiving of our bodyes also: Which must needs be a great com∣fort to the godly to know and beleeve, how that by his grave and buryall; he hath sweetly perfumed our graves wherein we shall be buryed: and instead of stinking houses of perdition, hath made them chambers of quiet rest and sleepe unto us: so that as the Prophet saith, Peace shall come and they shall rest in their beds (that is, their graves) every one that walketh before him, Esay 57.2.

And in these respects, and sundry others which might be thought upon: The buryall of Christ, is esteemed by some Ancient Fathers, to be more h••nourable then his birth; according to that of Saint Austin: Gloriosior est sepuli••ra quam nativitas in Christo, ista e∣nim co••pus mor••al•• genuit, illa edidit immorta••e. Because that brought

forth a body which was mortall, so that it both could, and did dye; whereas this restored and returned it immortall, and which can dye no more; but liveth and abideth now for ever. And as after his birth, he fell into many tortures and troubles, miseries, and afflictions in this life: so after his buryall he hath passed im∣mediately from death to life in the land of the living: So that Religiosior plane est ista quam illa nativitas, as the Father goes on. This latter birth of his, is more to be celebrated and held sacred then the former; because in that the Lord of the whole World was kept close prisoner, nine months together in his Mothers wombe; whereas this detained him only three dayes in the wombe of the earth. In which respect, Illa cunctorum spem tardius protu∣lit: Haec omnium salutem citius suscitavit, That is said, but to de∣lay our hope, and this to finish more speedily our Salvation. In regard whereof also the Prophet saith: That Sepulchrum ejus e∣rit gloriosum, as the vulgar Latine reads it: Esay 11.10. that is, His Sepulcher or buriall shall be glorious: not by reason of the statelinesse of his tombe; or magnificence of the pompe and so∣lemnity at his buriall. For herein it is very likely that the Se∣pulcher and sepulture of Alexander the Great, and many other earthly Princes, might farre outstrippe and overgoe him, exceed and excell him much: but onely, Quia ex morte ad vitam & glo∣riam aeternam revixit, as saith Chitraeus; because herehence hee passed presently from death to life, and from mortality to im∣mortality and eternall glory: whereas all those great Monarchs of the World, aswell as meaner persons; remaine under deaths arrest till this present day, and so are like to continue to the Worlds end.

And therefore, although these Potentates of the earth can find neither comfort nor glory in their grave, though they goe with never so much pompe and glory to it: Yet wee which are Christians, doe expect and looke for both by reason of the bu∣ryall of this our Saviour who (as you have heard) hath hereby sanctifyed our graves to be unto us as our beds, wherein our bo∣dyes rest from th••ir labours till the generall resurrection at the the latter day, and further hath opened unto us a way from thence to eternall glory: So that although we dye and be buryed as o∣ther men, yet we shall rise againe with him from the earth to life everlasting.

And lastly, to conclude; we may from this buryall and sepul∣ture of Christ, learne and note the civill use of the grave, to be necessary and fitting for all persons and people whatsoever, to bury their dead out of sight, and from annoyance, and offence that they may otherwise come from their deceased bodyes. It being reckoned among the blessings of God, to be decently and come∣ly brought unto our graves, and so layd and put into them; and not to be cast out as wile carkasses to the beasts of the field, or foules of the ayre: as it was threatned and imposed as a curse up∣on Jeconiah, to be buryed as an Asse is buryed; even drawne and cast forth without the gates of Jerusalem, Jer. 22.19.

And therefore Diogenes is too currish and uncivill to say, Cast me out and lay a staffe by me; as seeming to take no thought for seemely buryall at all: whereas the Saints of God have al∣wayes had a speciall care of it. Abraham purchasing a possessi∣on of buryall (the first purchase that we read of in the booke of God) wherein to bury his dead out of his sight, as yee may see, Gen. 23.4. And the Sonne of God himselfe (the subject of our discourse at this time) submitting and permitting his body after his death to be put into a decent and comely grave; as here you see.

But yet if it so fall out, as oftentimes in warres, in pestilence; in drowning and the like, it doth: That the godly happen to be deprived of seemely and Christian buryall; as the two witnesses of Christ, through the rage and inhumane cruelty of their perse∣cutors were, as it appeares, Revel. 11.8, 9. Let all men know, that this is no hurt or detriment unto them either in the resur∣rection of their bodyes, or salvation of their soules: No more then the st••tely and pompous tombes and buryall of the wicked can benefit or profit th••m either of these wayes. For all the pompe and honour done unto their bodyes, cannot keepe their name and fame, from shame and dishonour, no•• their soules from the fire of hell torments and confusion. The rich glutton dyed and was buryed (richly no doubt and sumptuously) but his soule for all that went to hell, where it was tormented. Lazarus dyed likewise, and no mention is made of his buryall; but yet it is expresly said, That his soule was carryed by Angels into A∣brahams bosome; What profit then had the rich man in that his body was buryed; or what disprofit or hurt was it to Lazarus though his body were not?

Let us not be carelesse then of the decent and comely buriall of our bodies, nor neglect to hew us out a Tombe, as Joseph here had done; or to provide Coffins or Graves for them: but above and before all, let us be carefull to provide that our soules may be carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome. And this suf∣ficeth for the buriall of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I will conclude the whole discourse with Saint Augustines Prayer upon the Passion, in this manner. O thou most gratious God, which for the redemption of the world didst vouchsafe to be borne into the world; to be circumcised as a Jew; and yet to be rejected by the Jewes thy Countrey-men, and Kinsmen, accor∣ding to the flesh: to be betrayed by thine owne Apostle Judas the Traytor, and that with a kisse, the signe and pledge of love: Yea, to be bound with Cordes, and so led as an innocent and harmelesse Lambe unto the slaughter; to bee undecently and un∣civilly presented and offered to the sight and view of Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate, and Herod, to be accused by false witnesses; to have thy sacred body tormented with scourges, and thy blessed soule tortured and afflicted with revilings and reproaches; to be besmeared with filthy spittle, and to be crowned with piercing and pricking Thornes: to bee beaten and buffeted with fists, stricken with rods, blindfolded in thy face, despoyled of thy garments, fastened to the Crosse with nayles; and so lifted up upon the Crosse naked, in the wide and open aire: To be accoun∣ted and crucified among theeves, to be offered Vineger and Gall to drinke, and lastly, to have thy sides wounded and broken, pier∣ced and launced with a speare: Thou, most gratious Lord, I say, by these most holy and sacred sufferings of thine, (which I, though most unworthy, doe thus recount and recollect) as also by thy holy Crosse and death, deliver me, and set me free from the pu∣nishments and paines of Hell; and vouchsafe to carry me with thee to that blessed place of rest, and Paradise of pleasure; whi∣ther thou carryedst that good theefe that was crucified with thee: who with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Notes

• Ser. 117. de Temp.
• Ser 133. de Temp.
• Compend. Theol. c. 49.
• Luke 16.22, 23.