The Institution of Christian Religion

For whereas there can be found no moderation in our corrupt nature, where all our affections do with troublesome violence exceed all measure, they do wrong to measure the form of God by that standard. But when man was in his uncorrupted state, then there was a moderation having force in all his affections. to restrain excess. Whereby, he might well be that he was like unto us in sorrow, dread, and fearfulness, & yet that by this mark he differed from us. Being so confuted, they leap to an other cavillation, that though Christ feared death, yet he feared not the curse and wrath of God from which he knew himself to be safe. But let the godly readers weigh how honourable this is for Christ, that he was more tender and more fearful than the most part of the very rascal sort of men. Thieves & other evil doers do obstinately hast to death, many do with haughty courage despise it: some other do mildly suffer it. But what constancy or stout courage were it, for the son of God to be astonished & in a manner stricken dead with fear of it? For even that which among the common sort might be accounted miraculous, is reported of him, that for vehemency of grief, very drops of blood did fall from his face. Neither did he this to make a show to the eyes of other, but when in a secret corner whether he was gone out of company, he groaned unto his father. And this putteth it out of all doubt, ye it was needful that he should have Angels to come down from heaven to relieve him with an unwonted manner of comforting. How shameful a tenderness, as I said, should this have ben, to be so far tormented for fear of common death, as to melt in bloody sweat, and not to be able to be comforted ⟨image 180⟩but by sight of Angels? What? doth not that prayer thrice repeated, (Father,¹ if it be possible, let this cup depart from me) proceeding from an incredible bitterness of heart, show that Christ had a more cruel and harder battle than with common death? Whereby appeareth that those triflers against whom I now dispute, do boldly babble upon things that they know not, because they never earnestly considered what it is, or of how great importance it is that we be redeemed from the judgement of God. But this is our wisdom, well to understand how deer our salvation did cost the son of God.

For whereas there can be founde no moderation in our corrput nature, where al our affections do with troublesome violence excede all measure, they doe wronge to measure the forme of God by that standard. But when man was in his vncorrupted state, then there was a moderation hauyng force in all his affections. to restrayne excesse. Wherby, he might well be that he was like vnto vs in sorrowe, dread, and fearefulnesse, & yet that by this marke he differed from vs. Beyng so confuted, thei leape to an other cauillation, that though Christ feared death, yet he feared not the curse and wrath of God frō which he knew himself to be safe. But let the godly readers weye how honorable this is for Christ, yt he was more tēder and more fearefull than the most part of the very rascall sort of men. Theues & other euell doers do obstinately hast to death, many do wt haute courage despise it: some other do midly suffer it. But what constācie or stoute courage were it, for the sonne of God to be astonished & in a maner striken dead wt feare of it? For euen that whiche among the common sort might be accompted miraculous, is reported of him, that for vehemencie of griefe, very droppes of bloud did fal from his face. Neither did he this to make a shew to the eyes of other, but whē in a secret corner whether he was gone out of companie, he groned vnto his father. And this putteth it out of all dout, ye it was needeful that he should haue Angels to come downe frō heauen to relieue him wt an vnwonted maner of cōforting. How shameful a tēdernesse, as I sayd, should this haue ben, to be so far tormented for feare of cōmon death, as to melt in bloudy sweate, and not to be able to be comforted