And then for the fear and reluctance of Christ, no marvel if he who was in all things like unto us, had his share in the same passions and affections like wise though without sin. But neither of these did any way derogate from the most free Sacrifice which he himselfm offered once for all, inasmuch as there was an absolute submission of the inferior to the higher will, and the inferior it self, shrunk not at the obedience, but at the pain. To explain this more clearly, considern in Christ a double Will, or rather a double respect of the same Will. First the natural Will of Christ, whereby he could but wish well unto himself, and groan after the conservation of that being, whose anguish and dissolution did now approach; whereby he could not upon the immediate burdeno of the sin of man, and the wrath of God buto fear,p and notwithstanding the assistance of Angelsq drop down a sweatr, as full of wonder as it was of torment, great drops of blood, and then no ⟨p. 51⟩marvel if we here, Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me. But then again consider not the natural, but the merciful will of Christ by which he intended to appease the wrath of an offended, & by any other unsatisfiable God; the removal of an unsupportable curse, the redemption, of his own, and yet his fellow creatures, the giving them access unto a father, who was before a consuming fire, in a word, the finishing of that great work which the Angles desire to look into, and then we find that he did freely lay down his life and most willingly embraced what he most naturally did abhor. As if Christ had said (if we may venture to paraphrase his sacred words) Father thou hast united me to such a nature whose Created and Essential property it is to shrink from any thing that may destroy it, and therefore if it be thy Will let this Cup pass from me: But yet I know that thou hast likewise anointed me to fulfil the eternal Decree of thy love, and to the performance of such an office the dispensation whereof requires the dissolution of my assumed nature, and therefore not as I, but as thou wilt. So then both the desire of preservation was a natural desire, and the offering up of his Body was a free-will offering. And indeed the light of nature hath required a kind of willingness, even in the Heathens brute Sacrifices.
And then for the fear and reluctance of Christ, noe marvell if he who was in all things like unto us, had his share in the same passions and affections like wise though without sin. But neither of these did any way derogate from the most free Sacrifice which hee himselfem offered once for all, in asmuch as there was an absolute submission of the inferiour to the higher will, and the inferiour it selfe, shrunk not at the obedience, but at the pain. To explaine this more cleerly, considern in Christ a double Will, or rather a double respect of the same Will. First the naturall Will of Christ, whereby hee could but wish well unto himselfe, and grone after the conservation of that being, whose anguish and dissolution did now approach; whereby he could not upon the immediate burdeno of the sinne of man, and the wrath of God buto feare,p and notwithstanding the assistance of Angellsq drop downe a sweatr, as full of wonder as it was of torment, great drops of blood, and then no ⟨p. 51⟩marvell if we here, Father if it be possible let this Cup passe from me. But then again consider not the naturall, but the mercifull will of Christ by which he intended to appease the wrath of an offended, & by any other unsatisfiable God; the removall of an unsupportable curse, the redemption, of his own, and yet his fellow creaturs, the giving them accesse unto a father, who was before a consuming fire, in a word, the finishing of that great work which the Angles desire to looke into, and then wee finde that hee did freely lay downe his life and most willingly embraced what hee most naturally did abhorre. As if Christ had said (if wee may venture to paraphrase his sacred words) Father thou hast united mee to such a nature whose Created and Essentiall property it is to shrink from any thing that may destroy it, and therefore if it be thy Will let this Cupp passe from mee: But yet I know that thou hast likewise annoynted mee to fullfill the eternall Decree of thy love, and to the performance of such an office the dispensation wherof requires the dissolution of my assumed nature, and therefore not as I, but as thou wilt. So then both the desire of preservation was a naturall desire, and the offring up of his Body was a free-will offring. And indeed the light of nature hath required a kind of willingnesse, even in the Heathens bruit Sacrifices.
- mHeb. 9. 14.
- nVid. Hooker l. 5. sect. 48. and Doctor field of the Church lib. 1. c. 18.Vid. Hooker l. 5. sect. 48. and D•ctor field of the Church lib. 1. c. 18.
- oHeb. 5. 7.
- oHeb. 5. 7.
- pMatth. 26. 39
- qLuk. 22. 43.
- rLuk. 22. 44.
