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

For the first: The persons that came to Christ, were the Jews and Judas, soldiers and servants, all sent from the High Priests and Pharisees, and Elders of the people, Matt. 26. 47. John 18. 3. And they were a great multitude of them. So natural is the hatred that the men of the world bear to Christ, that it is easy to get men enow to bear arms against Christ, or to do hurt to Religion, or religious persons: but we see in our times what a wonderful hard thing it is to get men or money to do any service against Antichrist.

For the first: The persons that came to Christ, were the Iewes and Iudas, souldiers and feruants, all sent from the High Priests and Pharisies, and Elders of the people, Matt. 26. 47. Iohn 18. 3. And they were a great multitude of them. So naturall is the hatred that the men of the world beare to Christ, that it is easie to get men enow to beare armes against Christ, or to doe hurt to Religion, or religious persons: but wee see in our times what a wonderfull hard thing it is to get men or money to doe any seruice against Antichrist.

For the second: Judas and the Jews came thus furnished; They first get a band of men, (which being not in the power of the Priests) they must needs have them, as borrowed from Pilate: And with this Band they send their own officers, and all were furnished with weapons, swords, and staves: and the Text notes that they were a great multitude of them. Now what was all this to do? It was to take Christ, Christ I say, that was known to be so peaceable a Man, and so quiet, as no man came near him for meekness and lowliness; and besides, he was usually in the Temple, and so easy to be taken at any time, or in any place, if they will needs lay violent hands upon him. But observe two memorable things: First, the effect of an ill conscience, in Judas and the Priests: they knowing the cause to be so naught, suffer such a conflict with an army of fears in their own hearts, that fearing lest both God and men should be against them, they raise an army of men, for the effecting of their wicked purpose: Oh the force of conscience! What a fearful baseness is it to be wicked, or to set upon wicked purposes? It is a very troublesome and chargeable thing, to be engaged for the effecting of mischievous devices. Secondly, note how just God is: these sinful men have drawn their swords and bent their bows against the Just one: How deservedly therefore afterwards did God make the sword enter into their own breasts. These men that entertain but one Band of Romans against their Lord and King, even Christ, shall afterwards receive into their own bowels and bosoms the swords of the whole army of the Romans, to revenge their