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

Thirdly, his care of the safety of his Disciples he showed two ways: First, by going out alone to meet his Adversaries, lest in the tumult his Disciples should be seized upon. Secondly, by speaking to the armed men to take him, and let them depart without injury. Now the reason why he was so careful of them, was (as the Evangelist notes) that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled which he spake in his prayer to his Father, Of those which thou hast given me, I have not lost one: And lost they had been (in our sense) if they had not been preserved to do the work they were elected to, (viz.) to be witnesses of Christs Death and Resurrection throughout the world; which work might have been hindered by their apprehension. Again, note how our Saviour carries himself towards them: He speaks to them as their Lord and King, and therefore saith, Let these depart, which are words of authority, commanding them to let the Apostles go; which thing is the more clear, because they did let them go accordingly.

Thirdly, his care of the safetie of his Disciples he shewed two waies: First, by going out alone to meet his Aduersaries, lest in the tumult his Disciples should be seazed vpon. Secondly, by speaking to the armed men to take him, and let them depart without in•ury. Now the reason why he was so carefull of them, was (as the Euangelist notes) that the word of Iesus might be fulfilled which he spake in his prayer to his Father, Of those which thou hast giuen me, I haue not lost one: And lost they had beene (in our sense) if they had not beene preserued to do the worke they were elected to, (viz.) to be witnesses of Christs Death and Resurrection throughout the world; which worke might haue beene hindered by their apprehension. Againe, note how our Sauiour carries himselfe towards them: Hee speakes to them as their Lord and King, and therefore saith, Let these depart, which are words of authoritie, cōmanding them to let the Apostles go; which thing is the more cleare, because they did let them go accordingly.

And thus of their coming to Christ: The taking of him, and binding of him, and leading him away follows, the story of it we find in all the Evangelists. Now the reasons why he suffered these things are to be considered. He that gives liberty to Captives, was taken himself, that he might deliver us from captivity under Satan, by whom we were detained, and that his captivity might comfort the Martyrs that suffer for the Testimony of Jesus, and might sanctify their restraints, and so he was bound, that we might be freed from the bonds of our sins, and of the Devil, and evil examples and customs of the world in which we were fettered, and that he might comfort such as are in bonds for righteousness sake. He was uncivilly led out of the Garden, that so he might lead us into the heavenly Paradise, out of which we were cast.