The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

The fourth point is, why it was needful that Jesus Christ the Son of God should suffer? and for answer thereunto we must know that he did not suffer casually, but by divine providence, so as nothing befell him in the least thing, which was not seen to be necessary for our redemption: that God that doth all things by measure in afflicting his servants, doth much more exactly look to the pouring out and filling of the cup he did give his own Son, so as not a drop could light into it, without especial reason and sound consideration. Now there be many impulsive causes, or reasons given in Scripture why Christ must suffer: as

The fourth point is, why it was needfull that Iesus Christ the Sonne of God should suffer? and for answer thereunto we must know that he did not suffer casually, but by diuine prouidence, so as nothing befell him in the least thing, which was not seene to be necessarie for our redemption: that God that doth all things by measure in afflicting his seruants, doth much more exactly looke to the powring out and filling of the cup he did giue his owne Sonne, so as not a drop could light into it, without especiall reason and sound consideration. Now there be many impulsiue causes, or reasons giuen in Scripture why Christ must suffer: as

1. That so the Scriptures might be fulfilled, that foretold his sufferings, Luke 24. 26, 27. and therefore it is usual in the history of the Gospel, when the particular sufferings of Christ are mentioned, to say, it was that such and such a Scripture might be fulfilled. Let wicked men mark this point; God is so just of his word, that he will not spare his own Son, but executeth every Judgement and misery, which in his word he foretold he should suffer, nor he did not release him from the least circumstance of any part of his Passion, as the dividing of ⟨p. 311⟩his garments, and casting Lots for his vesture &c. and therefore how can it be possible, that they that are so hateful to God, should escape any of those woes and curses denounced in Scripture? Let Swearers, Drunkards, Adulterers, Liars, Hypocrites, and the like, be afraid of this.