The Fountain of Life Opened

First, The kind and nature of the death Christ died, which is here described more generally, as a violent death. Ye have slain him: and more particularly, as a most ignominious, cursed, dishonourable death; ye have crucified him.

First, The kind and nature of the death Christ died, which is here described more generally, as a violent death. Ye have slain him: and more particularly, as a most ignominious, cursed, dishonorable death; ye have crucified him.

Secondly, The causes of it are here likewise expressed: and that both principal and instrumental. The principal cause, permitting, ordering, and disposing all things about it, was the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. There was not an action or circumstance, but came under this most wise and holy counsel, and determination of God.

The Instruments effecting it, were their wicked hands. This foreknowledge and counsel of God,¹ as it did no way necessitate or enforce them to it; so neither doth it excuse their fact from the least aggravation of its sinfulness. It did no more compel or force their wicked hands to do what they did, than the Mariners hoisting up his sails, to take the wind to serve his design, compels the wind. And it cannot excuse their action from one circumstance of sin▪ because Gods end and manner of acting was one thing; their end and manner of acting another. His most pure and holy; theirs most malicious, and daringly wicked. Idem quod duo faciunt, non est idem. To this purpose a grave Divine will expresses it.