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.

VVhat are the efficient causes of Christs passion?

There are three efficient causes thereof. God, Sathan, and men: and all these in diuerse respects.

1. The Counsel and determination of God, the most absolute and high will of God, that is, his ordinance, whereby from eternitie he hath so disposed of this businesse, that therein he might manifest his iustice and mercie.

2. The primitiue or outward cause mouing vnto it, the cala∣mitie of mankinde, and the tyranny of the Diuell ouer mankinde.

3. The antecedent or inward cause mouing here vnto was the vn∣speakeable loue of God the father, towards his creature, as it is said Ioh. 3.16. So God loued the world, that hee gaue his onely begotten sonne, &c.

4. A fellow cause working voluntarily and with election, and o∣beying the father, was the sonne of God himselfe, who as Paule saith. Phil. 2.7. Made himselfe base, taking on him the forme of a ser∣uant, & became obedient to the father euen vnto the death of the crosse. For hee deliuered himselfe into the hands of his enemies volunta∣rily and readily, according to the prophecie. Esai. 53.7. He was offe∣red because he would▪ and Heb. 10.4. out of the Psalm. 40.7.8.9. Be∣cause it was impossible by the bloud of Buls and Goats to take away sins,

therefore Christ entring (namely into the world) said, Sacrifice and oblation thou wouldest not haue, burnt sacrifices for sins thou wast not pleased with, then I said, Lord I come, (in the beginning of the book it is written of me) that I may doe thy will, O my Lord.

Sathan also is a chiefe cause of Christs death, because with an an∣cient hatred he persecuted the seed of the woman, and when hee could do no more hee bit his heele, as it was foretold Gen. 3.15.

All men are causes of Christs death, and to them it must be im∣puted because of the guilt and the sinne wherein euery one is en∣tangled.

The helping or instrumentall causes of Christs death were, Iu∣das, and the high Priests who counted to Iudas the 30. siluer pie∣cesa 1.1. Annas also & Caiphas, Pilate, and the people which cryed Away with him, away with himb 1.2. And the Roman souldiers who were his executioners, which instruments, notwithstanding God so vsed, as he finished, by them a worke most holy, to wit, the re∣demption of mankind: but the cursed instruments (for none but the most vile and wicked could endure to betray, condemne and murder an innocent) he did punish with most iust punishments, seing they sinned not by constraint, but of their owne accord and most of them against their owne conscience.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Mat. 26.15.
• b 1.2

  Ioh, 18.15