402 CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS contains a clear prophecy of the burial of Christ. But his burial is further typified in the Old Testament by two persons mentioned in this hymn, namely, the prophets Daniel and Jonah. The belly of the whale, in which Jonah, after he was thrown into the sea, remained three days and nights, and on the third day was cast forth alive, and without any hurt, was a type of the sepulchre of Christ, where he was to lie part of three days, well secured and uncorrupted, and from which he was to come out again alive on the third day. Of this we are assured by the Lord Jesus himself in these words: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth,' (Matt. xii. 40.) But the prophet Daniel is a type no less remarkable. For first, on account of his excellency above the other princes and wise men of the country, he was undeservedly, and out of mere envy, persecuted, and represented to the idolatrous Darius, as a despiser of his commands. Whereupon, 2. He was cast into the den of lions, the door of which was seated with the king's signet. But from thence, 3. He was early in the morning taken out alive. 4. He was advanced to greater honour. 5. His enemies were themselves cast as a prey to the hungry lions. Thus Jesus Christ in like manner was, 1. Out of mere envy, brought before an idolatrous governor, as a rebel against the Roman emperor, by the princes and rulers of the Jewish people. 2. He was condemned to die, and afterwards laid in a sealed sepulchre. But, 3. He came forth alive early in the morning, and thus was delivered from the jaws of that lion (Psalm xx. 21.) which destroys all things living. 4. He was thereupon crowned with honours and glory, and exalted above all the works of God. ON MOUNT GOLGOTил. 403 5. His enemies, on the other hand, shall be plunged into the pit of perdition, which they had dug for him. Thus God's truth gloriously displays itself in the burial of our blessed Saviour; and thus several prophecies and types of the Old Testament are accomplished by it. 5. Thou like a fruitful corn of wheat Whence thou shalt rise, and with thee bring These words bring to our mind what the Lord Jesus himself had foretold of his burial and resurrection. He alludes to his burial by these words: * Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground, and die, it abideth alone.' He then alludes to his resurrection, by adding, but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit,' (John xii. 24.) By these words our blessed Lord gives us to understand, that his death and burial were no less necessary to his resurrection, than the dying of a corn of wheat is to its vegitation and fertility. For unless the grain be cast into the earth, and given up to corruption, it bringeth forth no fruit; thus, unless Christ had died, and at least been laid in the place of corruption, he could not have acquired for us the grace of God, and a right to eternal life. O the transcendent love of Christ, who, by dying, hath begotten us again to a glorious and an immortal life! 6. Even in thy darksome grave I see The burial of Christ is to be considered, First, As a seal of his innocence. Thus both are connected together; hence the prophet says, 'He was with the rich in his death, i. e. 'he was laid in the sepulchre of a rich man, because he had done no 404 CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth,' (Isaiah liii. 9.) As Jesus, during his life, was infinitely separated from sinners; so in his burial he was to be distinguished from the malefactors who were crucified with him, whose bodies were exposed to birds and beasts of prey, or thrown into a common receptacle for executed bodies, and half covered with earth. Secondly, The burial of Christ is a mirror of his exaltation, in which we see the dawn of his approaching glorification; since some beams of his glory were displayed at the sepulchre in which his body was laid. At the same time, this is an earnest that the bodies of believers, after the separation of their souls shall rest in their graves under God's particular care, till their resurrection, and glorification, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire, (2 Thess. i. 7, 8.) 7. Since then my Saviour did descend This is a very comfortable inference which is drawn from our Saviour's burial; namely, that our grave is thereby sanctified, and changed into a calm and quiet recess for sleep. Anciently the evil spirits in demoniacs made their abode among the tombs, (Mark v. 5.) and these were the ensigns of their triumphs, which, since the introduction of sin, they had erected among mankind. But since the only begotten Son of God has condescended to be laid in the grave, the sepulchres are become silent recesses for sleep and rest; and are so far sanctified by his short abode among the tombs, that even the angels of light are not ashamed to appear there, (John xx. 12.) Who will now dread the grave, since, through Christ, it is made as it were the gloomy passage that leads to the regions of eternal day? 8. As in the font I die to sin, ON MOUNT GOLGOTΗΛ. 405 In these words we are directed to Christ's burial, as a source of comfort. St. Paul says, 'If one died for all, then were all dead;' (2 Cor. v. 14.) hence we may further infer, that if one was buried, then were all buried. For as the first Adam, in his fall, represented the whole race of mankind: so in the work of redemption, the second Adam, in his circumcision, crucifixion, death, and burial, was likewise the re• presentative of all mankind. Therefore it is said in scripture of believers who enter into the fellowship of the blessed Jesus, 'That they are circumcised with Christ, crucified with Christ, dead with Christ, &c.' (Rom. vi. 4, 8. Col. ii. 11, 12.) To this fellowship with Christ's burial we are brought by baptism; hence St. Paul says, 'that we are buried with him in baptism,' (Col. ii. 12.) For as anciently the whole body was immersed in the water of baptism, and thus as it were buried and concealed for some moments, from the sight of spectators; this short continuance under the water signified that baptised persons are, as it were, buried with Christ, and consequently are entitled to all the benefits which our Saviour purchased for us by his death and burial. From this intimate union with the buried Jesus, a person that is baptised is to be accounted as one really dead unto sin; and as one who by Christ's passion has really made satisfaction to God's justice; so that neither sin nor the curse attending it, neither the world nor the devil, dare triumph over him any longer, since he is in Christ Jesus. But our Saviour's burial was followed by his resurrection; so we, that are buried with Christ, must also rise again with him from the grave of sin, and walk in newness of life. 1 Let us praise our faithful Saviour, who already, is it were, in our infancy has received us into the fellowship of his burial, when we could only lament our misery with tears, but had not words to express our indigence and request such a benefit of him. But let us, at the same time, enter on a careful ex 406 CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS, &c. amination, whether we are dead unto sin, and whether we are buried with Christ, and made alive to God.The old man must be forever put off; the sins, which Christ once buried in his grave, are never more to be brought to light again. If we have already done this, let us with a godly sorrow again enter into the fellowship of Christ's death and burial. 'Let us mortify our members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness; in a word, let us put off the old man with his deed,' (Col. iii. 5-9.) Let us, as those who are dead to the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life, adhere to the fellowship of Jesus Christ and his cross. Let us be willing to be 'hid with Christ in God, so that when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we may also appear with him in glory,' (Col. v. 3, 4.) To this end, may the living God, for the sake of Jesus Christ his beloved Son, richly bless to us this and all the preceding Considerations, that they may bring forth in us the fruits of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. THE PRAYER. O BLESSED Jesus, who didst submit unto death, and descend into the dark mansions of the dead for our sake, praised be thy name for these demonstrations of thy love. O make us the happy partakers of all the fruits of thy meritorious sufferings, thy death, and thy burial! Ever praised be thy name for the grace which thou hast bestowed upon me in the Consideration of thy manifold sufferings, from thy internal agony in the garden at the Mount of Olives, to thy descent into the silent chambers of the grave. Set thy seal to all the good thoughts, which these Considerations have stirred in our hearts; and may we in life and death, in the hours of suffering and intervals of joy, from thy PASSION derive health, strength, comfort, and blessing! Grant this for the sake of thine everlasting love to mankind. Amen, |