Ver.
8. Q. _WHY would not JESUS CHRIST shew |Herod| a miracle?_
_A._ Because in all probability, it was only to satisfy his curiosity that he desired to see one.
Q. _What may we learn from |Herod|’s never having seen CHRIST before?_
_A._ That CHRIST was no friend to courts; that pomp and greatness keep thousands from JESUS CHRIST; and that we ought therefore rather to thank GOD for our being in a lower estate.
12. Q. _What may we learn from the friendship made between |Pilate| and |Herod|, by the death of CHRIST?_
_A._ That Jew and Gentile, by CHRIST’s death, were to be united together in one body: _Herod_ being a Jew, and _Pontius Pilate_ a Gentile.
18. Q. _When do we as these Jews did?_
_A._ When we prefer our sins, (which are robbers, because they rob us of GOD’s favour) to our Saviour’s service.
26. Q. _What may we learn from |Simon| the Cyrenian’s bearing the cross?_
_A._ That they who would follow CHRIST, must follow him by the way of the cross.
31. Q. _What is the meaning of this verse?_
_A._ A good man in scripture is compared to a green fruitful tree, (See _Psalm_ 1st.) and wicked men to chaff, and are represented also by a barren fig-tree: the meaning of the verse therefore seems to be this: If they do this to me, who am a good man, how will GOD deal with that wicked people the Jews?
32. Q. _Why was CHRIST crucified with the thieves?_
_A._ To fulfill this saying, “And he was numbered with the transgressors.” _Isaiah_ liii. 12.
Q. _Why between them?_
_A._ As though he was the unworthiest and basest of the three.
34. Q. _What may we learn from hence?_
_A._ To pray for our most bitter enemies.
38. Q. _Why was the superscription written in |Hebrew|, |Greek|, and |Latin|?_
_A._ To shew that JESUS CHRIST was to be the Saviour of all nations, tribes, and languages.
39. Q. _What may we learn from the behaviour of the impenitent thief?_
_A._ That for the generality, those who live all their lives in sin, die hardened.
40. Q. _What may we learn from the behaviour of the penitent thief, and CHRIST’s behaviour towards him?_
_A._ That there is mercy for the worst of sinners, through CHRIST the Saviour.
Q. _May wicked men draw any reasons from hence, to defer their repentance till a death-bed?_
_A._ No, by no means.
Q. _Why?_
_A._ Because probably this thief had never heard of CHRIST before. 2dly, He might not have been so notorious a sinner as is imagined, though drawn in by surprize or temptation to commit the crime for which he suffered. 3dly, GOD converted him, to honour his Son’s death, that he might in the very agonies thereof triumph over the devil. 4thly, Because he gave uncommon instances of his faith: he calls CHRIST, “Lord,” when his own disciples had forsook him, when the High-priest, scribes, and rulers were deriding him, and his own divinity under an eclipse: none of which circumstances are applicable to a wilfully wicked man, that defers repentance till he comes to die.
44. Q. _What is the sixth hour?_
_A._ Twelve at noon.
Q. _What the 9th?_
_A._ Three in the afternoon.
45. Q. _What was the vail of the temple?_
_A._ A curtain that parted the two places, where the Jews and Gentiles worshipped.
Q. _Why was it rent in twain?_
_A._ Because by the death of CHRIST, the partition wall between Jew and Gentile was to be broken down.
46. Q. _Why did CHRIST cry with a loud voice?_
_A._ To shew that he died full of vigour.
Q. _What may we learn from his calling GOD, Father?_
_A._ That we are to acknowledge GOD to be our father, though under the severest dispensations of his providence.
51. Q. _What learn you from hence?_
_A._ That we must not follow a multitude to do evil.
53. Q. _Why was it remarked, that CHRIST’s grave was hewn out of a rock?_
_A._ Because then it could not be said, that his disciples digged under, and stole it away.
Q. _Why that he was laid in a grave, where never man before was laid?_
_A._ Because then if any one’s body did rise, it must be that of the LORD JESUS.
56. Q. _What may we learn from the last part of this verse?_
_A._ That even the most civil offices due to our nearest friends, ought not to hinder us, if possible, from keeping the sabbath-day holy.