Twenty sermons preached at Oxford before His Majesty, and elsewhere

They wondered that he was dead so soon, it 'was because himself laid down his life. His soul then was not dragged or forced out of his body. It was not only passive, but active obedience. No man taketh it from me; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up. This had I from my Father. They are grossly deceived then, that say Christ's active obedience was not free and voluntary, because he was commanded: for as well may they say, his passive was not voluntary, and so not meritorious, because it likewise was commanded, which none can deny. Thus Christ's offering was a free-will-offering, though it was a most bitter one; yet, this being a part of his Father's Will, he went as voluntarily to the pains of the Cross, as thou dost to thy dinner, when thou art throughly hungry. For his meat and his drink was to do his Father's Will, Joh. 4.34. And this makes it of such worth and efficacy, that he did it willingly: See it in the type that went before him, in Isaac; Isaac was grown up, he was no Babe, he was able to carry wood enough to burn himself when he went to be sacrificed; and therefore, sure he had strength: If Isaac had pleased, he might have ran away from the old man his Father; yet he suffers himself to be bound, and to be laid upon the wood. A true type of our Saviour: His also was a free-will offering, and so a sweet-smelling sacrifice unto God. It being the highest active obedience, it presently pacifieth the w••th of his Father. He humbled himself, and became obedient. This obedience of our Saviour is the matter and ground of our Justification. Rom. 5.18. As by the offence of one, Judgment came on all unto condemnation; so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came on all to Justification of life. By the obedience of this blessed Saviour many are made righteous; so that now our Saviour's obedience followeth next.

They wondred that he was dead so soon, it 'was because himself laid down his life. His soul then was not drag'd or forced out of his body. It was not only passive, but active obedience. No man taketh it from me; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up. This had I from my Father. They are grosly deceived then, that say Christ's active obedience was not free and voluntary, because he was commanded: for as well may they say, his passive was not voluntary, and so not meritorious, because it likewise was commanded, which none can deny. Thus Christ's offering was a free-will-offering, though it was a most bitter one; yet, this being a part of his Father's Will, he went as voluntarily to the pains of the Cross, as thou dost to thy dinner, when thou art throughl hungry. For his meat and his drink was to do his Father's Will,