III–IV. Passion and crucifixion under the state of humiliation
III. The passion of Christ is completed by insults and torments of every kind, both of soul and of body, which partly the fury of enemies inflicted on Him, and partly the immediate chastisement of the Father.
We take the beginning of those sufferings from His captivity. What happened to Him before that we judge to have been foresufferings rather than the sufferings proper, by which He would be tested whether, already foreknowing the evils to be borne, and indeed by experimental knowledge, He would nevertheless be ready by voluntary obedience to bear others still. Hence Augustine: Christ did not die from necessity, because He is omnipotent, nor from debt, because He is holy and immaculate, but from free will, because He is a merciful and compassionate Lord.
IV. Crucifixion is a mode of killing that teaches that Christ was made a curse for us, so that we might be freed by His cross from the curse of the law. On the mode of crucifixion see, among others, Justus Lipsius. The cross was not for the sake of execration, but a trophy and sign, as Sanford teaches from Eusebius Pamphilus and Chrysostom (On the Descent to Hell, book 3, section 125).
Latin
III. PASSIO Christi completur omnis generis contumeliis & cruciatibus tum animae tum corporis, quos partim furor hostium ei intulit, partim immediata Patris castigatio. Initium vero passionum istarum ducimus a captivitate ipsius. Quae enim ipsi antea evenereunt, propassiones potius fuisse existimamus, quam passiones, quibus exploraretur, an etiam malorum ferendorum praescius, & quidem per experimentalem scientiam, nihilominus tamen paratus foret voluntaria obedientia ad ferendum alia. Unde Augustinus: Non, inquit, mortuus est Christus ex necessitate, quia omnipotens, neque ex debito, quia sanctus & immaculatus, sed ex libera voluntate, quia misericors & miserator Dominus. IV. CRUCIFIXIO est modus occisionis, qui docet Christum pro nobis factum esse maledictionem, ut nos per illius crucem a maledictione legis liberaremur. De modo crucifixionis vide praeter alios Justum Lipsium. Crux fuit non execrationis causa, sed tropaeum & signum, ut ex Eusebio Pamphilo & Chrysostomo docet Sanfordus lib. 3 de descensu ad inferos sect. 125.