A Golden Chain

And therefore to give all men a token of his power, and to show that he died voluntarily, it pleased him to cry with a loud voice. And this made the Centurion to say that he was the Son of God.¹ Again, Christ died not as other men do; because they first give up the ghost, and then lay their heads aside: but he in token that his death was voluntary, first lays his head aside after the manner of a dead man, and then afterward gives up the ghost.² Lastly, Christ died sooner then men are wont to do upon the cross, and this was the cause that made Pilate wonder that he was so soon dead. Now this came to pass not because he was loath to suffer the extremity of death:³ but because he would make it manifest to all men that he had power to die or not to die. And indeed this is our comfort that Christ died not for ⟨p. 345⟩us by constraint, but willingly of his own accord.

And therefore to giue all men a token of his power, and to shewe that he died voluntarily, it pleased him to crie with a loud voice. And this made the Centurion to say that he was the Sonne of God.¹ Againe, Christ died not as other men doe; because they first giue vp the ghost, and then lay their heads aside: but he in token that his death was voluntarie, first laies his head aside after the manner of a dead man, and then afterward giues vp the ghost.² Lastly, Christ died sooner then men are wont to doe vpon the crosse, and this was the cause that made Pilate wonder that he was so soone dead. Now this came to passe not because he was loath to suffer the extremitie of death:³ but because he would make it manifest to all men that he had power to die or not to die. And indeede this is our comfort that Christ died not for ⟨p. 345⟩