Page:Doctrine of the cross of Christ, stated and improved.pdf/4

 legs of the two thieves, crucified with Redeemer, were broken, to hasten their  for a reason assigned by the Jews. they came to Jesus, they found that he dead already, and they marvelled at it. was probably owing to the sorrows of his holy soul, the weight of  guilt, and the insupportable stroke  avenging Justice. He was oppressed afflicted in a manner that cannot be. Hence his most piercing My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken 

The cross of Christ denotes not the timber to which he was nailed, and  which he expired, but his crucifixion  it: the death which he died for  The publication of this is called  (1 Cor. i. ) Which is said to he foolishness, to those  perish, but to such as are saved it is the power  God. To suffer persecution for  this doctrine, is to suffer persecution for  cross of Christ; and to glory in salvation  Jesus is to glory in his cross. (Gal. vi. 12, ) Thus the apostle in writing to the says, "As many as desire to make a  shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be  only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ." And at the  verse he exclaims, "God forbid that I  glory, save in the cross of our Lord