Fourthly, and lastly, In what manner did Christ receive this cruel and unrighteous sentence? He received it like himself, with ad- mirable meekness and patience. He doth as it were wrap himself up in his own innocencv, and obedience to his Father's will, and stands at the bar with invincible patience, and meek submission. He doth not at once desire the judge to defer the sentence, much less fall down and beg for his life, as other prisoners use to do at such times. No, but as a sheep he goes to the slaughter, not opening his mouth. Some apply that expression to Christ, Jam. v. 6. " Ye have condemned and killed the Just, and he resisteth " you not." From the time that Pilate gave sentence, till he was nailed to the cross, we do not read that ever he said any thing, save only to the women that followed him out of the city to Gol- gotha : and what he said there, rather manifesting his pity to them, than any discontent at what was now come upon him ; " Daugh- " ters of Jerusalem, (saith he) weep not for me, but weep for " yourselves and for your children," Luke xxiii. 28, Sfc. O the perfect patience and meekness of Christ. The inferences from hence are.
Inference 1. Do you see what was here done against Christ, under
SERM. XXIV. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 805
pretence of law ? What cause have we to pray Jar good lawsy and righteous executioners of them?
O ! It is a singular mercy to live under good laws, which pro- tect the innocent from injury. Laws are hedges about our lives, liberties, estates, and all the comforts we enjoy in this world. Times will be evil enough, when iniquity is not discountenanced and punished by law ; but how evil are those times like to prove when iniquity is established by law ! As the Psalmist complains, Psal. xciv. 20. " It was the complaint of Pliny to Trajan, that whereas " crimes were wont to be the burden of the age, now laws were so ; " and that he feared the commonwealth which was established, " would be subverted by laws *." It is not likely that virtue will much flourish, when " judgment springs up as hemlock in the fur- rows of the field," Hos. x. 4. How much therefore is it our con- cernment to pray, that " judgment may run down as a mighty " stream ?" Amos v. 24. " That our officers may be peace, and " our exactors righteousness ?" Isa. lx. 17. It was not therefore without great reason, that the apostle exhorted, that " supplica- " tions, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for u all men ; for kings, and all that are in authority, that we may " lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty," 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. Great is the interest of the church of God in them ; they are instruments of much good or much evil.
Inf. 2. Was Christ condemned in a court of judicature? How evident then is it, that there is a judgment to come after this life ? Surely things will not be always carried as they are in this world. When you see Jesus condemned, and Barabbas released, conclude, that a time will come when innocency shall be vindicated, and wicked- ness shamed. On this very ground, Solomon concludes, and very rationally, that God will call over things hereafter at a more righ- teous tribunal : " And moreover, I saw under the sun the place of ''judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righte- " ousness, that iniquity was there. I said in my heart, God shall " judge the righteous, and the wicked : for there is a time there " for every purpose and for every work," Eccles. iii. 16, 17. Some indeed, on this ground, have denied the divine providence ; but Solomon draws a quite contrary conclusion, God shall judge : Surely, he will take the matter into his own hand, he will bring forth the righteousness of his people as the light, and their just dealing as the noon-day. It is a mercy, if we be wronged in one court, that we can appeal to another where we shall be sure to be relieved by a just impartial Judge. " Be patient therefore, my
* Olim criminibusjjnm Irgifrus labor atur ; et metuendum est, ne respublicafwidata, sit legibus evcrsa. Pliu. ad Trajan.
20G THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. XXIV,
" brethren (saith the apostle) until the coming of the Lord,11 James v. 6, 7, 8.
Inf. 3. Again, here you see how conscience may be over-borne and run dawn by a fleshly interest- Pilate's conscience bid him beware, and forbear : his interest bid him act ; his fear of Caesar was more than the fear of God. But O I what a dreadful thing is it for conscience to be ensnared by the fear of man ? Prov. xxix, %5. To guard thy soul, reader, against this mischief, let such conside- rations as these be ever with thee.
1. Consider how dear those profits, Or pleasures cost, which are purchased with the loss of inward peace ! There is nothing in this world good enough to recompense such a loss, or balance the misery of a tormenting conscience. If you violate it, and prostitute it for a fleshly lust, it will remember the injury you did it many years after ; Gen. xlii. 21. Job xiii. 26. It will not only retain the memory of what you did, but it will accuse you for it : Mat. xxvii. 4. It will not fear to tell you that plainly, which others dare not whisper. It will not only accuse, but it will also condemn Vou for what you have done. This condemning voice of conscience is a very terrible voice*
You may see the horror of it in Cain, the vigour of it in Judas* the doleful effects of it in Spira, It will, from all these its offices, produce shame, fear, and despair, if God give not repentance to fife. The shame it works will so confound you, that ycu will not be able to look up; Job xxxi. 14 Psal. i. 5. The fear it works will make you wish for a hole in the rock to hide you ; Isa. ii. 9. 10, 15, 19. And its despair is a death-pang. The cutting off of hope, is the greatest cut in the world. O 1 who can stand under such a load as this ? Prov. xvii. 14.
2. Consider the nature of your present actions; they are seed sown for eternity, and will spring up again in suitable effects, re- wards, and punishments, when you that did them are turned to dust. Gal. vi. 7. " What a man sows, that shall he reap :" And as sure as the harvest follows the seed time, so sure shall shame, fear, and horror, follow sin, Dan. xii. 2. What Zeuxis, the fa- mous limner, said of his work, may much more truly be said of ours, ccternitati pingo, I paint for eternity, said he, when one ask- ed him why he was so curious in his work. Ah I how bitter will those things be in the account and reckoning, which were pleasant in the acting and committing ? It is true, our actions, physically considered, are transient ; how soon is a word or action spoken or done, and there is an end of it ? But morally considered, they are permanent, being put upon God's book of account. O ! therefore take heed what you do : so speak3 and so act, as they that must give an account.
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