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

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 ⟨p. 348⟩rebellion, not against them, but against Christ.

For the second: Iudas and the Iewes came thus furnished; They first get a band of men, (which being not in the power of the Priests) they must needs haue them, as borrowed from Pilate: And with this Band they send their owne officers, and all were furnished with weapons, swords, and staues: and the Text notes that they were a great multitude of them. Now what was all this to doe? It was to take Christ, Christ I say, that was knowne to be so peaceable a Man, and so quiet, as no man came neere him for meekenesse and lowlinesse; and besides, he was vsually in the Temple, and so easie to be taken at any time, or in any place, if they will needs lay violent hands vpon him. But obserue two memorable things: First, the effect of an ill conscience, in Iudas and the Priests: they knowing the cause to be so naught, suffer such a conflict with an armie of feares in their owne hearts, that fearing lest both God and men should be against them, they raise an armie of men, for the effecting of their wicked purpose: Oh the force of conscience! What a fearefull basenesse is it to be wicked, or to set vpon wicked purposes? It is a very troublesome and chargeable thing, to be engaged for the effecting of mischieuous deuices. Secondly, note how iust God is: these sinfull men haue drawne their swords and bent their bowes against the Iust one: How deseruedly therefore afterwards did God make the sword enter into their owne brests. These men that entertaine but one Band of Romans against their Lord and King, euen Christ, shall afterwards receiue into their owne bowels and bosomes the swords of the whole armie of the Romans, to reuenge their