Question 37

THE ARGVMENT.

Hitherto of the person: Nowe of the office of Christ, as touching our redemption, the partes whereof are two: his humiliation, & his glorification: to his humiliation belong his suffering, and vnder whome he suffered, and his punishment, that is, the kind of his death.

What beleuest thou when thou saiest, he suffered?

That in the whole time of his life, which he continued here vpon earth, but especiallie in the end thereof, hee susteined both in body and soule, the wrath of God against the sinne of all mankind, that by his suffering, as by the onely^a sacrifice of reconciliation, he might both deliuer our souls from everlasting condemnation, and might also purchase for vs, the fauor of God, righteousnes, and euerlasting life.^b

The Vse.

By this historie of the grieuous and bitter suffering of Christ, we are put in mind, how hainous a matter sinne is, for the which, God would receiue no ransom, but the death of his only begotten Sonne: Secondly, howe exceeding the loue of Christ toward vs is, who did not sticke to suffer so fearfull torments for vs, that he might reconcile vs vnto God, and might purchase vnto vs life and saluation, which by sin we had lost. Thirdly, to consider what duty wee owe againe, namely, to prepare our selues according to the counsel of Peter, both to suffer patiently, because we are thereunto called, and Christ suffered for vs, leaving vs an Example, that we should followe his steps: And also to resist sinne, because he bare them in his bodie vpon the crosse, that we being dead vnto sinne, might liue vnto righteousnes.^c