That Christ willingly died is evident by the circumstances noted about his death: when Peter counselled him to spare himself, and not to go to Jerusalem (where he was to be put to death) bhe called him Satan, and said, he was an offence to him: when Judas went out to betray him, che said unto him, That thou doest, do quickly: dWhen Judas was gone out to get company to apprehend him, he went to the place where he was wont, so as Judas might readily find him; yea, he met them in the mid-way that came to take him; and he asked them whom they sought, though he knew whom they sought: and when they said, Jesus of Nazareth, he answered, I am he: When they came to him, he drove them all backward with a word of his mouth, and yet would not escape from them: eHe could have prayed to the Father to have had more then twelve legions of Angels for his safeguard against those that apprehended him, but would not: fwhen by his adversaries he was provoked to have come down from the Cross, and could have done so, he would not. aAt the instant of giving up the ghost, he cried with a loud voice: which showeth that his life was not then spent, he might have retained it longer if he would: and thereupon the Centurion gathered that he was the Son of God. hWhen he was actually dead, and laid in a grave, he rose again. These & other like circumstances verify ⟨p. 48⟩that which Christ said of himself, iNo man taketh my life from me, but I lay it down of my self. It was therefore no necessity that compelled him to die, but his voluntary obedience.
That Christ willingly died is euident by the circumstances noted about his death: when Peter counselled him to spare himselfe, and not to goe to Ierusalem (where he was to be put to death) bhe called him Satan, and said, he was an offence to him: when Iudas went out to betray him, che said vnto him, That thou doest, doe quickly: dWhen Iudas was gone out to get companie to apprehend him, he went to the place where he was wont, so as Iudas might readily finde him; yea, he met them in the mid-way that came to take him; and he asked them whom they sought, though he knew whom they sought: and when they said, Iesus of Nazaret, he answered, I am he: When they came to him, he droue them all backward with a word of his mouth, and yet would not escape from them: eHe could haue praied to the Father to haue had more then twelue legions of Angels for his safeguard against those that apprehended him, but would not: fwhen by his aduersaries he was prouoked to haue come downe from the Crosse, and could haue done so, he would not. aAt the instant of giuing vp the ghost, he cried with a loud voice: which sheweth that his life was not then spent, he might haue retained it longer if he would: and thereupon the Centurion gathered that he was the Sonne of God. hWhen he was actually dead, and laid in a graue, he rose againe. These & other like circumstances verifie ⟨p. 48⟩that which Christ said of himselfe, iNo man taketh my life from me, but I lay it downe of my selfe. It was therefore no necessitie that compelled him to die, but his voluntarie obedience.
- bMat. 16. 32, 23
- cJohn 13. 27.Iohn 13. 27.
- d& 18. 2. &c. Audivi, Domine, auditum tuū et expani, dum quaeris à quaerentibus quid quaerant, cùm noveris quod te quaerant: & dixisti te esse lesum Nazarenū. Cypr. de Pass. Christi.& 18. 2. &c. Audiui, Domine, auditum tuū et expani, dum quaeris à quaerentibus quid quaerant, cùm noueris quod te quaerant: & dixisti te esse lesum Nazarenū. Cypr. de Pass. Christi.
- eMatth. 26. 53.
- f& 27. 42.
- aMark. 15. 39.
- hJohn 2. 19. Matth. 28. 6.Iohn 2. 19. Matth. 28. 6.
- iJohn 10. 18. Indicia dedit nullase necessita e, sed obedientia urgeri ad mortem. Cypr. de coen. Dom. Reason.Iohn 10. 18. Indicia dedit nullase necessita e, sed obedientia vrgeri ad mortem. Cypr. de coen. Dom. Reason.
