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

Moreover, we may observe how malice and wickedness had besotted the Priests and Scribes. They allege a place in the Psalms, viz. He trusted in God, let him save him now, if he will have him; which words were there uttered in the name of the wicked enemies of God: and yet these men so skilful in the Old Testament, have not the brains to discern that by their own mouths they have condemned themselves. Thus doth God in his justice infatuate wicked men, so that their own mouths do betray them.

Moreouer, we may obserue how malice and wickednesse had besotted the Priests and Scribes. They alledge a place in the Psalmes, viz. He trusted in God, let him saue him now, if he will haue him; which words were there vttered in the name of the wicked enemies of God: and yet these men so skilfull in the Old Testament, haue not the braines to discerne that by their owne mouthes they haue condemned themselues. Thus doth God in his iustice infatuate wicked men, so that their owne mouthes doe betray them.

Lastly, see how desperately wickedness is set in the hearts of men: the poor Thieves now ready to dye for their offences, yet have no love of Jesus or the truth in him, but join with the Jews in reviling Christ. It seems both the Thieves reviled Christ when they first came up upon the Cross, which increaseth the wonder of the conversion of one of them.

Lastly, see how desperately wickednesse is set in the hearts of men: the poore Theeues now ready to dye for their offences, yet haue no loue of Iesus or the truth in him, but ioyne with the Iewes in reuiling Christ. It seemes both the Theeues reuiled Christ when they first came vp vpon the Crosse, which increaseth the wonder of the conuersion of one of them.

The third thing he suffered was grievous torments both of soul and body: And first for the torments of his body, they must needs be great, both in respect of what went before, and what he then felt. Before he had been grievously pained in that Agony in the Garden, when he sweat blood: and afterwards was tied & bound and carried away bound; and was buffeted and beaten with rods, and with extreme contumely kept waking all night, and then cruelly whipped, crowned with thorns, and beaten with a Reed, and made to carry his Cross on his shoulders: and after all this to be so tortured with nails in his hands and feet, it must needs import a most grievous torment he felt: so as of him may be said what David uttered, My heart melted like wax, my tongue cleaved to the roof of my mouth, and thou hast placed me in the dust of death,