Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

What did he suffer without the Hall?

1. Being vncloathed of his purple, he is led forth of Ierusalem bearing the crosse to which he was to be nailed, a type of which deede went before in Isaaca 1.1: for like as the bodies of those beasts (as is saide Hebr. 13, 11.) were burned without the campe of the people of Israell, vpon which the sinnes of the people were laid, and were therefore accursed, so that the Priests did eate nothing therofb 1.2: so Christ beareth our sinnes and the curse due to them together with the crosse, a token of the curse, out of Ierusalem being made euen as a cursed sacrifice and vnworthy of the companie of men, who in himselfe was most pure and in∣nocēt, so that he only is to be acknowledged that sacrifice wherby the sin of the world is taken away. Now concerning Symon of Cy∣rene hisa 1.3 bearing of the crosse, by compulsion, whē Christ himself fainted vnder the burther thereof through wearines & sadnes, this sheweth both the monstrous insolency & crueltie of the Iewes, as also the cōmunion & partaking of Christ & his holy Martyrs in his suffering, though on their part, it be without all expiation of sin.

2. He is led into the place of dead mens souls called in Hebrewe Golgotha, in which seditious persons, theeues and other malefact∣ors were wont to be ignominiously punished, that hence it may appeare, he was despised of men, and full of sorrowes, according to Esais Prophecie cha, 53.3.

3. He is crucified:* 1.4 then which punishment there was at that time none more grieuous & ignominious: for as it is to be gatherd out of Ps. 22.17. & the words of Thomas, Iohn. 20.25. they being strong¦ly stretched vpon the crosse, were fastned vnto it with nailes driuē through their hāds & feet, afterwards being set vpright & on high they ended their life in the horrible torments of all their nerues & whole body: also the death of the crosse was most abhominable & pronounced accursed by gods own mouthb 1.5 This curse would the son of god vndergo, therby to free vs frō the curse we had deserued; & that it might appeaer that sin was most abhominable: for which god would haue his son vndergo such punishment: that euen as death by a tree entred into the world, euē so by a tree of the crosse it might be takē out of the world. To conclud, that the truth might bee answerable to the figure: for euen as the sacrifice was lifted vpon the Altar and offeredc 1.6, so Christ was lifted vp from the earth into the ayre, being hanged and killed vpon the Crosse, because he must ouercome the powers of the aire. Ephes. 2.2. Also Iohn. 3.

14. And as Moses lift vp the Serpent in the wildernesse, so must the, son of man be lift vp, that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but liue for euer.

He suffereth betwixt two the eues, as a captaine of theeues, that the Scripture might bee fulfilled, Esa. 53.13. He was committed a∣mong the transgressors, and praied for sinners, that he might suffer the punishment which we had deserued, and might the second time make vs equall with the Angels in the kingdome of his father, by the merit of which punishment hee also sanctified the infamous places appointed for punishment of malefactors, as also the pu∣nishmēts themselues of malefactors, least any man should think that the infamie of them should be any hindrance before God, to them which beleeue in him, or that they could bee any impedi∣ment to mans saluation.

He was crucified with his hands spread abroad, that with the one he might call and inuite the Iewes, with the other the Gentiles vnto him, offering them his merit: and likewise, as one that should become iudged of all men, & should set some on his right hand, some on the left.

6. He hangeth aliue vpon the crosse three whole houres, name∣ly, from the sixt houre to the ninth, that is, frō twelue of the clock after our count, til three in the afternoone. Which great ignominy of Christ▪ is the reward of our arrogancie, & and also our greatest glory & prize before God, by which, all our iniquitie is put away. Therfore Paul, Gal. 6.4. saith, God forbid that I should glory in anie thing but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ.

7. He hangeth naked, that he might make satisfaction for the sin of our first parents, who were disrobed & spoyled of the garment of innocency, also that he might cloath vs with his innocency, glo∣ry, & immortality, that he might enrich vs by his pouerty, to con∣clude, that such as the first man was dwelling in Paradise, such might be the second man at his entrance into Paradise. Also lots were cast vpon his garments, which thing was also foretold, Psal. 22.19. that we might beleeue the euents of things shewing vs that this was he which should come.

8. He feeleth thirst corporally, cōming through the anguish and bitternesse of his griefe, & through the sense of Gods wrath as al∣so spiritually through a most ardent desire of our saluation.

9 In steed of Hippocras or some pretious wine that was wont to be giuen to them who were condemned to die, that thereby they might be comforted* 1.7, he is made to drinke a most bitter drinke of vineger and gall mixed together, that in him might be fulfilled that which long before was foretold by Dauid, Psal. 69.22. And that the second Adam might suffer punishment for that sweete iuyce which the first Adam sucked out of the forbidden apple.

10 Men of all conditions reuile him, the common people, the Priests and Scribes, the theefe vpon the crosse, the souldiers scoffe at his prayers, and wrest them to a verie wicked sense, as though forsaking God, he asked helpe of the creatures.

11. He dieth, else would the crucifying haue done no good vn∣lesse the soule had beene pulled away from the bodie, because God had said. In dying thou shalt die the death. Gen. 2.17.

12. His side is thrust through with a speare, out of which ranne bloud, by which the Church springeth, and is quickned (euen as Eua was formed out of Adams side) and water, wherewith the Church being new born is washed. And from this wound, as from a fountaine of life, springeth the saluation of the Church, com∣fort and expiation of all sins, satisfaction, and that washing or pu∣rifying (which behooued to be done with the bloud) is vnder∣stood to be now accomplished: for without the shedding of bloud there is no remission of sinnes. Heb. 9.22. Also by this wound the death of Christ was made manifest and certaine, for the water which issued out of that wound of his side shewed that the wea∣pon entered euen into the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 namely that skinne which being full of water encloseth the hart, which being wounded, it is necessarie that euerie creature so wounded should forthwith die.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Gen. 22.6
• b 1.2

  Leuit. 4, 11 &, 6.30. & 16.27. Gal. 3.17
• a 1.3

  Mark 15.21
• * 1.4

  Gal. 3.13
• b 1.5

  Deut- 21 23.
• c 1.6

  Lev. 1.9.13 Deut- 2-27
• * 1.7

  Prouerb. 31 6.7