A Golden Chain

The humiliation of Christ is first of all set down in the Creed generally, and secondly by his parts or degrees. Generally, in these words, Suffered under Pontius Pilate. Where we must consider two things; the Passion it self, and under whom it was. For the first, that we may the better conceive the passion in his own nature, seven special points must be opened. I. The cause efficient. The principal cause of the passion, as it is the price of our redemption, was the decree and providence of God; as Peter saith expressly that Christ was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.¹ The impulsive cause that moved God to work our salvation by this means, ⟨p. 296⟩was nothing in man (for all mankind was shut up under unbelief, and therefore unable to procure the least favour at Gods hand) but the will and good pleasure of God within himself. The instruments which the Lord used in this business, were the wicked Jews and Gentiles, and the devil himself; by whom he brought to pass the most admirable work of redemption, even then when they according to their kind did nothing else but practise wickedness and malice against Christ. II. The matter of the passion, is the whole malediction or curse of the Law, containing in it all manner of adversities and miseries both of body and mind. All which may be reduced to three heads, the temptations of Christ, his ignominies and slanders, his manifold sorrows and griefs, especially those which stand in the apprehension of the unsupportable wrath of God. III. The form of the passion, is that excellent and meritorious satisfaction which in suffering Christ made unto his father for mans sin. We do not rightly consider of the passion, if we conceive […] to be a bare and naked suffering of punishment, but withal we must conceive it as a propitiation or a means satisfactory to Gods justice. The passion considered as a passion, ministers no comfort: but all our joy and rejoicing stands in this, that by faith we apprehend it as it is a satisfaction or a means of reconciliation for our offences. In this very point stands the dignity of the passion, whereby it differs from all other sufferings of men whatsoever.

The humiliation of Christ is first of all set downe in the Creede generally, and secondly by his parts or degrees. Generally, in these words, Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate. Where we must consider two things; the Passion it selfe, and vnder whome it was. For the first, that we may the better conceiue the passion in his owne nature, seuen speciall points must be opened. I. The cause efficient. The principall cause of the passion, as it is the price of our redemption, was the decree and prouidence of God; as Peter saith expressely that Christ was deliuered by the determinate counsell and foreknowledge of God.