Chapter 1 (50): 1. Whether Christ Merited For Himself And For Us, And What For
72 | THE SENTENCES, BOOK 3
not for himself that he is sad, nor for himself that he prays that the cup should pass, but for his disciples, lest the cup of suffering should fall to them; he prays that it may pass from him, so that it should not remain with them. ... Nor does he pray that it may not be with him, but that it may pass from him. Then he says: But not my will, but yours, be done.' In this manner, he signifies his fellowship with human anxiety, but without dissociating himself from the decree of the will which he shares with the Father."'"
"And so it is for the sake of men that he wills that the cup may pass, because all the disciples were to be tested by this cup; therefore he prays for Peter that his faith may not fail."'"""* "Knowing that all these things will cease after his death, he is sad unto death,'' and he knows that the cup cannot pass, unless he drinks it, and so he says: My Father, this cup cannot pass, unless I drink it; your will be done;'* he knows that, with the consummation of his passion, the fear of the cup would pass, which could not pass unless he drank it. Nor would the end of that fear come to pass before the same consummation, because after his death, the scandal of the apostles' weakness would be removed by the glory of his powers."!°—
Reader, understand these words with pious diligence, lest they become to you vessels of death."°
DISTINCTION XVIII
Chapter 1 (50)
1. WHETHER CHRIST MERITED FOR HIMSELF AND FOR US, AND WHAT FOR
HIMSELF, WHAT FOR US. On Christ's merit, it must not be passed over that some say he merited not for himself, but only for his members.
2. For his members, he merited redemption from the devil, from sin, from punishment, and the opening of the kingdom so that, with the removal of the flaming sword,' access might be freely available. But for himself, he merited the glory of impassibility and immortality, as the Apostle says:
Christ for us became obedient unto death, even death on a cross; because of this, God exalted him, and gave him a name which is above all other
"Mt. 26, 39.
Hilary, De Trinitate, bk 10 n37.
NG Elke) 32% "Hilary, De Trinitate, bk 10 n38.
BMt. 26, 38.
MMt. 26, 42.
"Hilary, De Trinitate, bk 10 n39, MC iaPs. 7. 14:
Ch Gene 3, 247 Apc. 2. 12)