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

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.

And thus of their comming to Christ: The taking of him, and binding of him, and leading him away followes, the story of it we finde in all the Euangelists. Now the reasons why he suffered these things are to be considered. He that giues libertie to Captiues, was taken himselfe, that hee might deliuer vs from captiuity vnder Satan, by whom wee were detained, and that his captiuitie might comfort the Martyrs that suffer for the Testimony of Iesus, and might sanctifie their restraints, and so he was bound, that we might be freeed from the bonds of our sins, and of the Deuill, and euill examples and customes of the world in which we were fettered, and that he might comfort such as are in bonds for righteousnesse sake. He was vnciuilly led out of the Garden, that so he might lead vs into the heauenly Paradise, out of which we were cast.

Thus of what the Jews did to him. What was done by his Disciples is briefly noted, and that was, that they all forsook him and fled: so as he was forsaken on all hands. And he suffered this desertion for divers reasons. First, that so no jot of our redemption, no not the least parcel of it, might be ascribed to any other than to one Jesus alone. Secondly, that hereby he might satisfy Gods justice for us, that had forsaken God, and fell away from him by our sins. Thirdly, that this example might somewhat ease and comfort such as are left and forsaken by their friends, in their distress. Fourthly, the Scripture was herein fulfilled, Smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered: and Christs words came to pass, All of you this night shall be offended in me.