have been so great, both towards the Author himself, and us also, we might be justly blamed, and could have no show of reasonable excuse; for, first, who knew M. Robert Rollock but they also knew what entire affection you carried towards him, and how careful you were in all things to please him, even from the time that first your acquaintance began, till the time that he finished his course. None loved him more tenderly, none used him more familiarly, none delighted more to confer with him privately, and to hear his preachings publicly; none showed greater gratitude towards him; for it was known by many that it would have been your pleasure, if from your hand he would have received a testimony of your love, as a fruit of your faith wrought by his ministry; yea, he himself did acknowledge, that none was to be compared with you for gratitude and good-will towards him; but chiefly, you declared your love towards him, when in his last disease you would have him to come to your house, where you entertained him (and for his cause many that came to visit him) liberally and honourably to his last breath, without any regard of expenses, even as a loving son entertaineth his father. Next, seeing the will of the testator should be sacred and inviolable, and in his testament he ordained, that whatsoever of his works should see the light thereafter should be dedicated to you, with these solemn words, expressly indited by himself, "GULIELMO SCOTO in perpetuum testimonium amicitiæ nostræ dedico, consecroque," (that wherever his works were read, your kindness and affection towards him might be known, and your memorial might endure to the posterity,) who can justly be offended that this work be dedicated unto you? who can envy your praise herein? Thirdly, if there were no more, this one cause may be more than sufficient to make this work to come out under your patronage and protection, that you have been the only instrument to make it to see the light; for through your great care, earnest endeavour, and large expenses, these Lectures were collected and gathered from all the parts of the country, east, west, south, north, how far distant that ever they were, from the hands of his scholars, who wrote them from his mouth; by your dealing and procurement they were written over and over again, revised,

corrected, and now made apt for the printing, so that by your means they now go abroad in the hands of men, we trust to the comfort of many. Lastly, we for our own parts offer our travails in this work unto your patronage, as a monument that we acknowledge ourselves to be more obliged unto you than we can requite; and of minds desirous not to be found unthankful for the undeserved favour you showed to us particularly, to speak nothing of the testimonies of your love, which you showed many ways towards them whom the Lord hath set in his service, both far and near, which they themselves do acknowledge and profess. We offer, therefore, these Lectures, and our labours therein, unto your patronage and protection, not only as a testimony of the Author's great liking and gratitude toward you, but also as a monument of our thankfulness for your kindness showed unto us. Finally, Sir, as God hath prevented you many ways with his blessings, and hath made you sensible of his love, and hath given you an honourable account and estate in this world, so continue in the honouring of God, and doing good unto his saints for his sake, and the Lord shall perform the fruit of his promises in you, which his saints find by experience; his mercy shall never leave you, until the time that he accomplish the work he hath begun, and he crown his grace with glory.

Now, the God of all grace and peace, who is able to do all things exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, grant to you, Sir, according to the riches of his mercy, a long, happy, and peaceable life here, to the comfort of his Church and commonwealth, and that you may abound in every word and work, and that you may fight constantly the good fight of faith here on earth, that when your course is finished, ye may be assured to receive that crown of glory in the heavens, which Jesus hath acquired to them that love him; to whose gracious protection we recommend you in body and soul, with all the actions you enterprise according to his will, for now and ever. Amen.

Yours in the Lord,

H. C.

W. A.

THE FIRST LECTURE.

OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST.

JOHN, CHAP. XVIII.

1. When Jesus had spoken these things, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

2. And Judas, who betrayed him, knew also the place for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

3. Judas then, after he had received a band of men and officers of the high priests and of the Pharisees, came thither with lanterns, and torches, and weapons.

4. Then Jesus, knowing all things that should come unto him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye ?

5. They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said unto them, I am he. Now Judas also, who betrayed him, stood with them. 6. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went away wards, and fell to the ground.

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UNTO this part of this Gospel (beloved in the Lord Jesus) the Lord hath done the office of a prophet and doctor, going about to instruct the people of the Jews in the way of life and salvation, and to instruct and comfort his own disciples especially in these last chapters. Now, in the eighteenth and nineteenth chapters following he doth the office of a priest. Ye know the Lord he is a King, a Priest, and a Prophet. He playeth the part of a Priest in offering up himself. He offered up none other sacrifice than his own body for the world, and for the redemption and salvation of mankind. As concerning his Passion and Suffering, which is re

hearsed in these two chapters, the history divideth itself very clearly: First, we have his passion and suffering in the garden; next, we have his suffering in the hall of Caiaphas the high priest; thirdly, we have his suffering before Pontius Pilate the judge; fourthly, we have his suffering in the place of execution, which is called Calvary, or in Hebrew Golgotha, where he was crucified; and, last, in the end of the nineteenth chapter, we have the last point of his suffering, standing in his sepulchre and burial, which is the last part of his humiliation. Now, this day we shall speak somewhat, as the time shall serve, of his suffering in the garden.

In this first head of Christ's suffering in the garden, first we have the part of Christ offering himself to be taken and bound willingly, and of a set purpose; next, we have the part of Judas, in coming out with a company of men of war against him to the same garden; he knew the place well enough, because the Lord, with his disciples, were wont to resort thither; in the third place, we have the communication betwixt the Lord and them that came with Judas to take him; and, fourthly, we have a fact of Peter, who will show his love towards his Master, and his manhood, by cutting off the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant; and, last, the taking of Christ, offering himself willingly, his putting into the hands of his enemies, and his binding. These things are set down in the first part of this history of the passion of the Lord, concerning his suffering in the garden.

Now, to come to the words, and, first, to Christ's part, it is said, "When Jesus had spoken these things, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples." There is Christ's part. Of very purpose he casteth himself to that place which Judas knew, and where he knew that he was wont to resort; of very purpose he went thither, because the hour of his death was at hand. The time is well to be noted when he doth this, when he had spoken these things, that is, when he had sufficiently instructed and comforted his disciples, and made that prayer for them, and recommended them to the Father, to keep them in his absence, then he

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maketh himself for death, and purposely he went to that place to be taken. Here is a plain lesson offered unto us in the person of Christ; when he had discharged a duty, especially to them who were concredit unto him, after that he had instructed them, and after that by prayer he had commended, first his own self, and then all his own, to God, then in security and peace he goeth on to death; he goeth not to die before he discharge a duty to them that were committed unto him, then willingly he addresseth himself to death. Ye know the lesson. When a man or a woman hath discharged their calling faithfully towards them that were committed unto them, and done their duty to them to whom they were addebted, then in peace and rest, and with a good conscience, they may offer up themselves at the pleasure of God, to lay down their life, and to die; therefore, whosoever they be that would die in rest and peace, (and, alas! when shouldest thou have rest, peace, and quietness to thy soul, if in the hour of death thou have it not?) let them take heed before they go to die, that they have discharged a faithful duty; and then having been faithful, when they go to die they may lie down and rest in peace, and in a good conscience. But ye know again one folly in this point, and this is the common fashion of men, when they have their health, before the Lord call on them, they are so slothful in discharging their duty to them to whom they are indebted, that when the soul is to depart out of the body, they are most occupied with business, and most troubled in making their testament, and I know not what. Now, make thy testament before-hand, and discharge thee of all things, and denude thine hand of all worldly affairs, that in that hour thy soul may rest on God, and be delighted on heavenly things, and on that life which thou art going unto by death.

But to come forward, it is said, "He went over the brook Cedron with his disciples." This brook Cedron was a water which ran between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, in a little and low valley, (Luke xxii. 39; 2 Sam. xv. 23;) and it was a little streape2 that

1 i. e. Entrusted.

2 i. e. A small rill.