The Marrow of Sacred Divinity - William Ames (1642)

1. THe Death of Christ is the last act of his humiliation, whereby he did undergoe, extreme, horrible, and greatest paines for the sins of men.

2. It was an act of Christ, and not a meere suffering, because he did of purpose dispose himselfe to undergoe and sustaine it. John 10. 11. I am that good shepheard: the good shepheard layes downe his life for his sheepe, Verse 11. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it downe by my selfe: by the same reason also it was voluntary, not compelled. And out of power, not out of infirmity only: out of obedience to his Father, and love to us, not out of his owne guilt or desert: unto satisfaction by overcomming, not to perdition by yeelding.

3. It did containe greatest punishments: because it did equall all that misery which the sinnes of men did deserve. Hence is that plenty of words & phrases, by which this death is set forth in Scriptures. For it is not simply called a death, but also a cutting off, a casting away, a treading under feet, a curse, an heaping up of sorrowes, and such like. Isay. 53. Psal. 22.

4. But it did so conraine these punishments, that the continuance of them, and holding under, and such like circumstances, which accompany the punishments of the sins of all the damned, were removed from this death. Acts 2. 24. It could not be that he could be held under by death. The reason is first because such circumstances as these are not of the essence of the punishment it selfe: but adjuncts following and accompanying that punishment in those who cannot so suffer punishment, that by suffering they should satisfie. Secondly, because there was in Christ, both worthinesse, and power to overcome as it were by this meanes, the punishment imposed. 1 Cor. 15. 54. 57. Death is swallowed up in victory. Thankes be given to God who hath given us victory by our Lord Iesus Christ.

5. But because there was in this death the consummation of all humiliation, whereof that also was the far greatest part: hence often in Scriptures by a Synechdoche of the member, the death itselfe of Christ is put for all that satisfaction which is contained in his whole humiliation.

6. These limitations being had, this death of Christ was the same in kind and proportion with that death which in justice was due to the sins of men representing the very same degrees, members, and kinds.

7. The beginning of the spirituall death of Christ in matter of losse, was the loosing of that joy and delight, which the enjoyment of God, and fulnesse of grace was wont to bring. But he did loose this spirituall joy, not as touching the principle and habit of it, but as to the act and sence of it.

8. The beginning of spirituall death in matter of sence, was the tasting of the wrath of God, and a certaine subjection to the power of darknesse. But that wrath of God was most properly that Cup which was given to Christ to be Drunke. Mat. 26. 39. My Father, if it be possible, let this Cup passe from me.

9. But the object of this anger was Christ, not absolutly, but only as touching the punishment which is brought by this anger, which he as our surety did undergoe.

10. That subjection to the power of darkenesse was not to bondage, but to vexation, which Christ did feele in his mind.

11. From these the soule of Christ was affected with sorrow, griefe, feare, and horror, in an agony. Mat. 26. 39. John 11. 27. Hebr. 5. 7. Luc. 22. 24.

12. In this manner was the soule of Christ affected not only in that part which some call the inferior, but also in the superior part: not only nor chiefly out of a fellow-feeling which it had with the body, put properly and immediatly: not chiefly out of compassion which it had in respect of others, but out of a proper suffering, which it did undergoe in our name. Lastly, not out of an horror of temporall death, which many of Christs servants also have by his power overcome, but out of a certaine sence of a supernaturall and spirituall death.

13. There were two effects of this agony. First, a vehement deprecation⁷⁰ shewing a mind astonished and a nature flying from the bitternesse of death, yet under condition, and with subjection to his Fathers will. Mar. 14. 35. He prayed that if it might be that houre might passe from him. John 12. 27. My soule is troubled, and what shall I say? Father keepe me from this houre: but therefore came I unto this houre. Secondly, a watery sweat having clotters of blood mixed with it dropping downe to the ground, Luc. 22. 44. Being in an agony he prayed more earnestly. And his sweat was like drops of blood falling downe to the ground.

14. In this beginning of spirituall death there was a certaine moderation, and mitigation, that in the meane while there might be place for those duties which were to be finished before his death, namely prayers, conferences, admonitions, answeres.

15. This moderation was inward or outward.

16. The inward was by spaces of time upon the flacking of the pressure and vexation which he did feele in his soule. Hence in his understanding he did attend unto the course of his office undertaken, to the glory that would thence arise to his Father, and to himselfe, and to the salvation of those whom his Father had given to him. In his will also hee did chuse and embrace all the miseries of death to obtaine those ends.

17. The outward mitigation of this death was by an Angell who did strengthen him in talking with him. Luc. 22. 43. And appeared to him an Angell from Heaven comforting him.

18. There was no inward beginning of the bodily death of Christ besides that naturall mortality and weakening which the outward force did bring.

19. The externall beginning was manifold, both in matter of losse, and matter of sence.

20. In matter of losse, he was rejected of his own people, counted worse then a murtherer, forsaken of his most inward Disciples, denied, and betrayed of all kind of men, especially of the chiefe ones, and those who were counted the more wise, he was called a mad man, a deceiver, a blasphemer, one having a devill, a great man and invader of another mans kingdome, he was stripped of his garments, and destitute of necessary food.

21. In matter of sence there was. First, shamefull apprehending. Secondly, a violent taking away: in just judgements, both Ecclesiasticall, and civill. Fourthly, in working, whipping, and crucifying, with reproches, and injuries of all kinds joyned with them. Yet there was some mitigation of this death. First, by manifestation of the Divine Majesty, to the working of certaine miracles: as in casting the Souldiers downe to the ground with his sight and voyce, and in healing the eare of Malchus. Secondly, by operation of the Divine providence, whereby it came to passe, that he was justified by the Iudge, before he was condemned. Mat. 29. 24. I am innocent of the blood of this just man.

22. The consummation of the Death of Christ was in the highest degree of the punishment appointed: where is to be considered. The death it selfe, and the continuance of it.

23. The consummation of spirituall death in matter of losse, was, that forsaking of the Father whereby he was deprived of all sence of consolation. Mat. 27. 46. My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?

24. The consummation of the death of Christ in matter of sence was the curse, whereby he did endure the full sense of Gods judgement upon mans sinne. Gal. 3. 13. He was made a curse for us. The hanging on the Crosse was not a cause and reason of this curse, but a signe and symbole of it. Ibid.

25. The consummation of bodily death was in the breathing out of his soule with greatest torment, and paine of the body.

26. In this death there was a separation made of the soule from the body, but the union of both did remaine with the Divine nature, so that a dissolution of the person did not follow.

27. This death of Christ was true, not feigned: it was naturall, or from causes naturally working to bring it, not supernaturall; it was voluntary, not altogether compelled; yet it was violent, not of inward principles:⁷¹ It was also in a certaine manner supernaturall, and miraculous, because Christ did keepe his life, and strength so long as he would, and when he would, he layd it down, John 10. 18.

28. The continuance of this death was, in respect of the state of lowest humiliation, not in respect of the punishment of affliction, for that which Christ said, it is finished, is understood of those punishments.

29. The continuance was the remaining under the dominion of death by the space of three dayes, Acts 2. 24. This state is wont properly to bee set forth by descending into Hell.

30. Christ being buried three dayes, was a witnesse and certaine representation of this state.