The Institution of Christian Religion

Here some lewd men, although unlearned, yet rather moved by malice than by ignorance, cry out that I do a heinous wrong to Christ, because it was against conveniency of reason, that he should be fearful for the salvation of his soul. And then they more hardly enforce this cavillation with saying, that I ascribe to the son of God desperation, which is contrary to faith. First they do but maliciously move controversy of Christs fear and trembling, which the Evangelists do so plainly report. For a little before that ⟨p. 100⟩the time of his death approached, he was troubled in spirit, and passioneth with heaviness, and at his very meting with it, he began more vehemently to tremble for fear. If they say that he did but counterfeit, it is to foul a shift. We must therefore, as Ambrose truly teacheth, boldly confess the sorrowfulness of Christ, unless we be a shamed of his cross. And truly if his soul had not ben partaker of pain, he had ben only a redeemer for bodies. But it behoved that he should wrestle, to raise up them that lay thrown down. And his heavenly glory is so nothing impaired thereby, that even herein gloriously shineth his goodness which is never sufficiently praised, that he refused not to take our weaknesses upon him. From whence is also that comfort of our anguishes and sorrows, which the Apostle setteth before us: that this Mediator did feel our infirmities, that he might be the more earnestly bent to succour us in misery. They say: that that thing which is evil of it self,¹ is unworthily ascribed to Christ. As though they were wiser than the spirit of God, which joineth these two things together, that Christ was in all things tempted as we are, and yet that he was without sin. Therefore there is no cause that the weakness of Christ should make us afraid, whereunto he was not by violence or necessity compelled, but by mere love of us and by mercy was led to submit himself. And what so ever he of his own will suffered for us, diminisheth nothing of his power. But in this one point are these backbiters deceived, that they do not perceive in Christ an infirmity clean and free from all fault and spot, because he kept himself within the bounds of obedience.

Here some lewde menne, although vnlearned, yet rather moued by malice than by ignoraunce, crye out that I do a haynous wrong to Christ, bycause it was agaynste conueniencie of reason, that he should be fearefull for the saluation of his soule. And then they more hardly enforce this cauillation with sayeng, that I ascribe to the sonne of God desperation, whiche is contrarie to fayth. First they doe but maliciously moue controuersie of Christes feare and trembling, whiche the Euangelistes do so playnely report. For a little before that