A Golden Chain

The first thing which Christ doth in this preparation, is to make choice of the place, in which he was to be apprehended, as will appear by conferring the Evangelists together. S. Matthew saith,¹ he went to the place called Gethsemane: S. Luke saith, he went to the mount of Olives as he was accustomed. ²And that we might not imagine that Christ did this that he might escape and hide himself from the Jews, S. John saith, that Judas which betrayed him knew the place, because oftentimes he resorted thither with his Disciples: ³whereas if he had feared apprehension he would have rather gone aside to some other secret and unwonted place. This then is the first point to be considered, that Christ knowing the time of his own death to be at hand, doth willingly of his own accord resort to such a place in which his enemies in all likelihood might easily find him, and have fit opportunity to attach him. For if he should have still remained in Jerusalem, the Scribes and Pharisees durst not have enterprised his apprehension, because of the people whom they feared: but out of the city in the garden all occasion of fear is cut off. By this it is manifest, that Christ yielded himself to death willingly, and not of constraint: and unless his sufferings had bin voluntary on his part, they could never have bin a satisfaction to Gods justice for our sins. Here a question offereth it self to be considered, whether a man may lawfully fly in danger and persecution, seeing Christ himself doth not. Answ. When good means of flying and just occasion is offered, it is lawful to fly. When the Jews sought to kill Paul at Damascus, the Disciples took him by night, and put him through the wall, and let him down in a basket to escape their hands. When Moses was called by God to deliver the Israelites, after he had slain the Egyptian, and the fact was known, and Pharaoh sought to kill him for it, he fled to the land of Midian. And our Saviour Christ sundry times when he was to be stoned, and otherwise hurt by the Jews, withdrew himself from among them. It is lawful then to fly in persecution, these caveats observed. First, if a man find not himself sufficiently strengthened to bear the cross. Secondly, his departure must be agreeable to the general calling of a Christian, serving to the glory of God and the good of his brethren, and the hurt of none.