not to buy, but to sell, whatever his pretences were. Nay,
Sixthly, What he did was not done by the perswasions of any. The High-Priest sent not for him, and without doubt was surprised when he he came to him on such an errand. For it could never enter into any of their hearts, that any of his own Disci∣ples could ever be drawn into a confederacy against him. No, he went as a Voluntier, offering himself to this work: which still heightens the sin; and makes it out of measure sinful.
Seaventhly, The manner in which he executes his treasonable design, adds further malignity to the fact. He comes to Christ with fawning words, and carriages: Hail Master, and kist him. Here's hony in the tongue, and poyson in the heart. Here's ha∣tred hid under lying lips. This was the man, and this was his fact. Let us enquire.
Thirdly, The cause and motives of this wickedness, how he [ 3] came to attempt, and perpetrate such a villany. Maldonate the Iesuit criminates the Protestant Divines, for affirming that God had an hand in ordering, and overruling this fact. But we say, that Satan and his own Lust was the impulsive cause of it. That God as it was a wicked treason, permitted it. And as it was a delivering Christ to death, was not only the permitter, but the wise and holy director or orderer of it, and by the wisdom of his providence overruled it to the great good, and advantage of the Church; in respect of which happy issue, Iudas his treason is called faelix scelus, a happy wickedness. Satan inspired the mo∣tion, Luk. 22.3, 4. Then entred Satan into Judas sirnamed. Is∣cariot, and he went his way, &c. his own Lusts like dry tinder kindled presently: his heart was covetous; there was predispo∣sed matter enough for the Devil to work on, so that it was but touch and take. Vers. 25. They covenanted to give him mony, and he promised, &c.
The holy God disposed, and ordered all this to the singular benefit and good of his people, Acts 4.28. they did whatsoever his hand and counsel had before determined to be done. And by this determinate counsel of God was he taken and slain. Acts 2.23. Yet this no way excuses the wickedness of the In∣struments. For what they did, was done from the power of