he is naturally defiled with the séede of all these corruptions wherby the truth of the definition is euident And for further confirmation therof God in Genesis sayth thus My spirite shall not alwayes striue with man because he is flesh Now seing Christ the most wise expositor of the scriptures affirmeth that by the fruite the trée shall be discerned therefore by the fruites of fleshe declared by Saint Paule in the 5. chapter to the Galathians it is plainely gathered that fleshe is nothyng els but a masse of iniquitie and corruption but the whole man was before concluded vnder the name of fleshe Therefore the whole man is a masse of iniquitie and corruption Againe in the 8. of Genesis he sayth The imagination of mans harte is euill euen from his youth whereby it appeareth that there is wickednes and corruption cleaning vnto hys nature which Dauid also vttereth in playne wordes Behold sayth he I was begotten in wickednes and in sinne hath my mother conceyued me And Ieremy sayth That the hart of man is wicked and peruerse And of the vncleanes and naturall corruption of mā thus Iob in playne woordes beareth witnes Who sayth he can make him cleane that is conceiued of vncleane seede And Christ himselfe sayth That that which is borne of flesh is fleshly The meaning wherof is plaine by that which is sayd before Agayne Paule witnesseth That thorough the offence of one man sinne hath entred vpon all men Againe the same Paule to shew the filthy corruption of nature sheweth the opposition and contrarietie betwene the lawe and sinne The law sayeth he is spirituall I am carnall solde vnder sinne as though he had sayd The lawe is pure but I am corrupt which he proueth by Christes owne rule namelye by the fruites For sayth he that good which I would that do I not but that euill which I hate that do I If nowe I doe that I would not then is it not I that do it but sinne that dwelleth in mee Where this is to be noted that he affirmeth sinne to dwell in hym that is to haue possession of hym and naturallye to cleaue vnto hym Agayne the same Paule accuseth the whole worlde that there is none righteous that there is none wise or that seeketh after God. Now I trust the truthe of the definition is sufficiently confirmed whereunto I will also adde somewhat of the opynion of the fathers that the agréemente betwene vs in the truthe thereof may appeare Thus writeth Augustine Contra vulnus originalis peccati quo in Adam omnium hominum corrupta mortificata est natura vnde omnium concupiscentiarum morbus moleuit potens remdium est mors filij Dei Domini nostri Iesu Christi The death of our Lorde Iesus Christ the sonne of God is a myghty remedye agaynst the wounde of originall sinne wherewith the nature of al men is in Adam corrupt and slayne and from whence the infection of all concupiscence hath sprong And the same agayne in his booke of nature and grace Natura verò ista hominis qua vnusquisque ex Adam nascitur iam medico indiget quia sana non est For thys nature of man wherein euerye man is borne of Adam hath now néede of a Physition because it is not found Agayne vpon the Gospel of Iohn Non natura quae tota fuerat per liberum arbitrium in ipso radice vitiata not by nature whiche through free will was wholye defiled in the verye roote And agayne he calleth it Perditionem hominis liberi arbitrij The losse of a man and of free wyll And agayne Amissionem imaginis dei The losse of the Image of God. Agayne thus wryteth Origene In lege pro illo qui natus fuerit iubetur offerri hostia par turturum aut duo pulli colūbini ex quibus vnus pro peccato et alius in ho locaustomata pro quo peccato offertur hic pullus vnus nūquid nuper aeditus paruulus peccare potuit et tunc habet peccatum pro quo hostia iubetur offerria quo mundus negatur quis esse etsi vnius diei fuerit vita eius In the lawe it is commaunded that for hym that is borne a payre of turtles or two yong pigeons shoulde bee offered of the whyche the one shoulde be for a sinne offeryng and the other for a burnt offeryng For what synne is thys one pigeon offered coulde the newe borne chylde sinne yea euen then hee hath synne for the which he is commaunded to offer a synne offeryng from the whyche there is no man clere and though hee bee but one daye olde And a lyttle after in the same place Sciebant enim illi quibus mysteriorum secreta commissa sunt diuinorum quia essent in omnibus genuinae sordes peccati For they to whom the secretes of the deuyne mysteries were committed knew that the naturall filthinesses of sinne were in al men And agayne the same Origene vpon Leuit. Quaecunque anima in came nascitur iniquitatis peccati sorde poluitur what soule soeuer is borne in fleshe it is defiled with filthe of wickednesse and sinne And Hierome vpon Ezechiell A pueritia appositum est cor hominis ad malum vt ne vnius quidem diei a natiuitatis suae exordio sine peccato sit humana conditio Mans heart is set vppon euill euen from his childhood that the nature of man is not one daye from his birth without sinne And agayne Ambrose Omnes homines in primo homine sine vitio conditi sumus et omnes naturae nostrae incolumitatem eiusdem hominis praeuaricatione perdidimus inde tracta mortalitas inde multiplex corporis animique corruptio inde ignorantia et difficultas All men were in the first man created wythout synne and all by the transgression of the same man haue lost the freedome of our nature from thence wee toke the manifolde corruption both of body and soule from thence ignoraunce and dulnes c. And Bernard speakyng thereof A primo homine vsque ad nouissimum protenditur in singulis quoque a planta pedis vsque ad verticem diffunditur hoc venenum It is stretched euen from the first man to the last and thys poyson spreade abroade in euerye man eeuen from the soole of the foote to the crowne of the hed Now I suppose it is sufficiently proued what originall sinne is Wherefore I wyll now a little touche the common doctrine of the earnest enemies I meane the Papistes concernyng the same Their common receyued definition therof amongst their schoolemen is thys Peccatum originis est reatus tantūm seu imputatio qua propter lapsum Adae omnes homines secundum naturam propagati rei sunt Originall sinne is onely the giltiship or imputation whereby all men generate according to nature are through the fall of Adam giltye For the
veniall for to bée veniall and remyssible is all one thing and therfore all sinnes which through fayth are forgeuen are veniall wherby the truth of the definition appeareth and hereby it is euident that no sinne can be called veniall in respect of his owne nature for so it is deadly but for that through mercy it is remitted so that one and the selfe same sinne is in diuers respectes both deadely and veniall for in him where sayth is it is veniall and where faith is not it is deadly Whereby it is also euident that vnto the wycked no synne is denyall so then the dyfference betwene veniall sinne and deadlye consisteth not in the nature of the sinne but in the wil of God which to the faythfull remitteth it and to the vnbeleuers reteineth it Now touching the opinion of the scholemen concerning veniall sinne it is a world to sée how they turmoyle them selues about it some of them thinke thē to be called veniall sinnes because they be light and easily remitted or els washt away with holy water as they terme it others thinke it so called because after death it should be remissible by the fire of Purgatorye ▪ others thynke them called remissible or venyall in respect of the sinne agaynst the holy Ghost which is called irremissible or vn forgeueable But the better learned amongst them accompt venyall synnes the dysposition or pronenesse towardes the thoughtes and affectyons whiche leade vnto deadly synne Herein is this one thyng worthy the notyng that howsoeuer they amongest them selues disagrée in diuersitie of opinions about the same yet in this one thyng they all agrée that none of them all taketh either counsell witnes or authoritye out of Gods worde concernyng the same The errour of all whiche can not be hidden from him that considereth what hath bene sayde before And vpon these false groundes thy inferre dyuers opinions of corrupt doctrine whereof I will rehearse one or two First they affirme that some synnes in the wicked be veniall synnes which is proued false Agayne that venyall synnes should be light synnes and not of their owne nature damnable Againe that they should bée washed away wyth holye water or clensed by the fire of Purgatory And yet Iohn Baptist sayd Beholde the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world And againe the Angell sayd to Ioseph He shall saue his people from their sinnes Neither sayd Iohn nor the Angel coniured water or Purgatory shall take away the sinnes of the world or saue the people from their sinne These thinges suffice for a faste of their errors herein Now forasmuch as it doth plainly appeare both what originall and actuall sinne is it is therby gathered that the difference betwene them is onely this That in actuall sinne that which is as it were the matter or substance of the sinne remaineth not after it be committed but onely the giltiship or bonde to the penaltie As when a man committeth whoredome murther theft or any such like soe soone as the acte is done the sinne is ended so that the whoredome murther or theft is past and gone but the giltiship and bonde to the penaltie remaineth but in originall sinne both the substance and matter of the sinne and also the giltiship remaineth still for the corruption remaineth still whereby euery man féeleth in his nature repining against all goodnes and a gréedy lust to the contrary Thus by Adam sinne entred into the world death by the meanes of sinne and all naturally are become the children of wrath and all dead in sinne so that death and damnation raigne ouer euery man Thus hauing shewed the excellencie of mans creation and horror of his transgression whereby all his ofspring are naturally rebells vnto God and slaues vnto sinne and death it followeth Cap. 2. ¶ That that transgression made man an apt subiecte for the two properties of God namely mercy and iustice to worke vpon NOw man hauing thus throwne him selfe headlong into the dolorous dūgeon of deadly dispaire ouerwhelmed with swallowing surges of distroyng distres being now dedicate vnto the iust conceiued wrath of God as the coniured foe to his owne former felicitie Now lyeth his caitife conscience displayed before the offended Maiestie of his late louing Creator but now reuenging Lord so farre hath his rebellious outrage banished all grace and stampe of the diuiue nature that no print or image therof remaineth perfect within him In stede of all those glorious ornamentes he hath endued himselfe with peculiar beauties of his own choice namely ignorance enuie pride crueltie carnalitie and all other sinne and that so naturally that the same now lurketh not in him as an accident which may be remoued from his nature but all his whole corrupt nature is now nothing els but sinne it selfe The whole man body minde thought worde and déede vtterly peruerted into the same so that the whole endeuour and disposition of his nature through rauishing sway of insatiable luste vnto sinne trauelleth with vnquenchable thirst the execution of the fruite therof Whereby it appeareth that man is now become a most apt subiect and conuenient matter wherin the iustice of God hath to display the magnificence of his power For he being now nothing els but wickednes it selfe which the iustice of God vtterly abhorreth and hateth in due punishment of him all the creatures of God haue to testifie and magnifie the pure and vnspotted righteousnesse of God which with holy and iust power punisheth most duely the hatefull and rebellious monster sinne and wickednes But as his iustice hath here an apt subiect wherin to manifest to the whole world the holy fearfull and reuerent Maiestie therof so hath his other most victorious proprietie namely hys triumphant and superaboundaunt mercy such a subiect of the same man wherin to manifest the glorious conquest therof as the whole world by vewe of the same shal be enforced to testifie and confesse the infinite largenes of hys mercy farre to excede and surmount all the residue of his glorious workes Wherefore the diuine Maiestie being not onely louing and merciful but in déede loue and mercy it selfe willing yet of his infinite bountie incomprehensible goodnes to loue that which now by nature was most vnworthy hys loue pittying the vtter dissolution and deserued destruction of mankinde God I say vewing beholding with a blincke of vndeserued grace the miserable calamitie of this cursed and iustlye condemned caitife glaunsed by him with a certain dimme slent of comfort concerning his restitution and adoptiou againe into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God in promising that by the séede of the woman the Serpentes head should be brused Thus being apparant that Adams transgression bringing in sinne and death made him and his ofspring rebells to God and consequently an apte subiecte for the mercy and iustice of God to worke vpon It follweth Cap. 3. ¶
foretold them by Esay of whom he shoulde be borne namely of a virgine by Micheas where hée shoulde be borne namely in Bethléem both by Moyses himselfe and also by Daniel he declared vnto them the tyme when he should be borne the afflictyons whiche he shoulde suffer for their restitution he painted at large in Esay and Zachery the saluation of hys people glory of his resurrection and kingdome both by Esay Ieremy and Zacharye hée foretold them so that from Adams fall he trayned man to take holde of his promise concerning the séede for their delyuerance All which notwithstanding so farre were they from the true sense and féeling thereof that neither themselues were profited nor by their example the heathen prouoked to seeke after god Wherefore God new for hys truthes sake mynding the consummation of hys promise determyned the finall establishment of thys couenant in the handes of the promised sede whereunto both Iew and Gentile shoulde be inuited that he as the sole mediator betweene God and maÌ„ might make the full reconcilement Wherefore the tyme beyng nowe come of hys long promised determination hée sent his sole and onelye begotten some our Lorde and Sauyour Iesus Chryst who of the virgine takyng fleshe was made man lyke vnto vs in all things sinne excepted who after many afflictyons in publishing declaryng Gods full purpose concernyng the consummation of hys couenaunt sealed vp the same with his owne giltlesse death and bloudshed And after hys risyng agayne from death sent his disciples abrode into all the partes of the earth to publishe that glad tidinges of mans reconcilement to God and deliueraunce from death and sinne by the merites and iust desert of Iesus Chryst Thus hauyng shewed how man regarded the Law and how in Christ the promised séede the couenant was consummate it followeth Cap. 7. ¶ How the obedyence and gyltlesse death of Christ was a full satisfaction for the disobedience and deserued death purchased to all mankinde by Adam Forasmuch as Adams rebellious dysobedieÌ„ce had so swalowed vp the whole nature of man into sinne and wyckednes as is shewed before that hys whole nature is nothing els but a full obedyence wylling desire and naturall pronesse of the whole man vnto sinne and rebellion And contrarywise the law of God is the absolute rule of ryghteousnesse which challengeth to the fulfilling thereof the full obedience willing desire and naturall pronesse of the whole man vnto righteousnesse These two being thus direct contrary which notwithstanding the God of all compassion for the triumphant glory of hys victiorious mercy by the mediation of Chryst the appoynted séede had bound himselfe by promise to reconcile In consideration whereof it was expedient that to thys reconcilement suche a medyator in the promysed séede shoulde be sent as participating in some poynt with both the extremes namely God and man myght haue an omnisufficient habilitie in hym selfe to consummate the absolute reconcilement wherefore Christ the eternall sonne and wisedome of the father commyng downe from heauen beyng very righteousnesse it selfe indewing the similitude of sinnefull flesh became perfect man like vnto vs in all thinges except sinne And so of his diuine nature and of naturall man sinne excepted became one perfect Christ namely that perfect and onely meane which in hym selfe had absolute habilitie to consummate the recencilement in asmuch as he was fully possessed of the natures of both the extremes namely perfect god and perfect man sinne excepted who hauing in himselfe full obedience willing desire and naturall pronesse of the whole man vnto the law he being righte ousnes it selfe passing through many troubles afflictions in proclaiming to stubbern man his nature office cause of his comming the nature of the new â—ouenaunt wher of he was the mediator finally offered vp him self vnto the iustice of God hys father the absolute end consummation and sacrifice of thys reconcilement As he vnto whom all the former promyses law and prophetes had respect and relation who now appearing before the sentence of the law and iustice of God presenteth hymselfe the full raunseme and reconcilement of mans transgression by the iust desert of hys innocent and giltles sufferyng that as by the rebellious acte of one gilty man namely Adam sinne and eternall death was engendered euen so by the obedient acte and giltles death of one gilteles man namely Iesus Christ sinne and eternal death is iustly againe destroyed and eternall lyfe the crowne of righteousnesse absolutely and most truely purchased for maÌ„ So that as the first Adam by corrupting nature made man the slaue of sinne so Christ the last â–ª Adam by adoption hath restored hyni agayne to be childe of righteousnesse Thys is he in whose person it is sayde by the Prophet Oseas O death I will be thy death O hell I will be thy sting so that by hym death is swalowed vp into victory hys lyfe hath deuoured our death hys righteousnes hath subdued our sinne hys saluation hath vanquished our damnation he hath put out the hand writing of the ordinaunces which were against vs he hath taken it out of the way and fastned it vpon his crosse Thus all the promisses as Sainct Paule saith being in him accomplished hee nowe remaineth an aduocate at the right hande of his father making intercession for vs beyng our peace our hope and consolation our wisedome iustice sanctification and redemption our light our waye and our life the accomplishement and end of the lawe vnto whom euen from the creation of Adam vntill his comming all the doing of God hadde respecte and relation Thus the sonne of God became man to make men by adoption the sonnes of God the glorious became abiecte to make the abiects glorious The blessed became cursed to make the cursed blessed The rich became poore to make the poore rich The righteous became condemned to make the condemned ryghteous The frée became bonde to make the bonde free greate was the sore of sinne that neded such a salue as neither 〈…〉 riarke nor Prophet power nor Potentate Aungell nor Archangell nor any other but onelye the sonne of God was able to make And hée not otherwise then by hys death and innoceÌ„t bloudshed Great I say was the sore of sinne Thus hauyng shewed that Christ is the ende of the lawe and hys death the omuisufficient redemption of man it followeth Cap. 8. ¶ To enquire the nature of the new couenant and what on the behalfe of man is required to the attaynement of ryghteousnesse in the same ALthough in the first couenantmade betwene God man concernyng mans restitution namely in the lawe God offered vnto man very much vnto whom in dede he ought nothing yet notwithstanding the offer being vnder such conditions as mans corrupte nature coulde no waye neyther by action nor consent satisfie as is shewed before surely the hope of that offer vanquished into iust feare and horror of the sentence
And all the workes of fayth procéede from the entyre obedience of the minde vnto God but what obedience is thys to challenge that from God by desert which no workes no not the very workes of the faythfull are able to make iust title vntoo as is proued in the 9. chapter wherby it appeareth to be the presumptuous worke of corrupt and ambitious man encroching vpon Gods prerogatiue namely vpon hys honor to challenge that by desert which no worke is able to counteruaile seing it is proued no worke can satisfie the iustice of god And let no man maruell that workes can be wicked hauing apparance of holines for the Scripture testifieth that the deuil caÌ„ transforme him selfe into an Angell of light that is into the pure Image of holines therefore there is no doubt but he is able to cloth hys workes with the same liuery And to conclude All workes done to any other end then is aforesayd are of the same stampe how 〈…〉 appeare in outward shew for it is not the acte but the purpose of the doer which God considereth God will haue obedience not fayned holines Wherunto wel agréeth this saying of S. Augustine Videtis quia non quid faciat homo considerandum est sed quo animo faciat In eodem facto inuenimus Deum patrem in quo inuenimus Judam patrem benedicimus Iudam detestamur benedicimus charitatem detestamur iniquitateÌ„ Quantum enim praestitum est generi humano de tradito Christo nunquid non cogitauit Iudas vt traderet Deus cogitauit salutem nostram quaredempti sumus Iudas cogitauit precium quo vendid 〈…〉 Dominum filius ipse cogitauit precium 〈…〉 ledit pro nobis Iudas cogitauit precium quod accepit vt venderet diuersa ergo intentio diuersafacta fecit Cum sit vna res ex diuersis eam intentionibus si metiamur vnuÌ„ amandum alterum damnandum vnum glorificandum alterum detestandum inuenimus Ye see that we may not consider what a man doth but with what minde and will he doth it For we finde God the father a worker in the same dede in which we finde Iudas a worker we blesse the father we abhorre Iudas we blesse the loue in the father we deteste the wickednes in Iudas For what knowledge is geuen vnto mankinde concerning the deliuery of Christ Did not Iudas mean to betray him but God ment our saluation wherwith we be redemed Iudas had respecte vnto the price for which he solde the Lorde the son him selfe had respect vnto the price which he gaue for vs Iudas minded the price which he receaued for sale of hym Wherfore the diuersitie of the intentes maketh the workes contrary If we measure one selfe thing by the diuers intentes of the doers we shall finde the one to be im braced the other to be condemned the one to be extolled the other to be detested And agayne Chrysostome Etenim quod fit iuxta Dei voluntatem quamuis videatur improbum esse tamen omnino Deo gratuÌ„ est acceptum contrà quod fit praeter Dei voluntatem ac secus quà m ille vult fieri quanquaÌ„ existimatur acceptum Deo tameÌ„ est omnium pessimum iniquissimum Of a truth that which is done according to the will of God although it seeme to be wicked yet is it altogether pleasaunt acceptable to god Contrarywyse what soeuer is done besides the will of God and otherwise then he will haue it done though it be esteemed as a thing acceptable to God yet it is of all other the worste and most wicked And that thou mayest vnderstand this to be true read the 3. of Kinges the 19. chapter concerning Achab that took ea certaine King of the Assirians and Phinées was for mans slaughter honoured with Priesthoode Hierome Matth. 23. Aug. ad Vincent epistola 48. Aduersus MaximinuÌ„ lib. 4. Iob. 1â— In psal 98. Aduersus Valentinij script li. 2. cap. 50. Chrysost in epist. ad Gal. cap. 1. August de doctrina Christiana lib. 1. ca. 37. In epi. 157. Roman 3. Matth. 22. Galat. y. Epist 〈◊〉 de vsu commu nionis ad Bohemos Epistolae 7. de amplâ—cteÌ„da 〈…〉 te Ecclesiae ad Bohemos Man onely created to gods Image was made Lord of all his other erthly creatures Man as soueraigne and Lorde of all creatures first gaue them their seueral names Eua the â—omaÌ„ was geuen vnto man to be his helper To man was graunted free liberty to easie of all that was in paradise sauyng only of the 〈◊〉 of lyfe What the image of God in maÌ„ is Man was the most excelleÌ„t erthly creature Yer 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 Originall righteousnes Man is called the image of God for the excellency of the nature that he was first created in Eph. 4. Col. 3. The fall of Adam The glorious state of man vtterly ouerthrown by disobedieÌ„ce That innecency couered sinne abhorred The miseries of maÌ„ that came by the traÌ„sgression of Adam the first man. Gen. 3. Ge. 1. 6. Originall sinne The generation and issue of maÌ„ corrupted The definition of original sinne 〈◊〉 Cor. 15. Deth hath no power but ouer the vnrighteous Ephe. 2. Rom. 1. Col. 3. Gen. 6. Gal. 5. Gen. 8. Psal 51. Iere. 17. Iob. 14. Rom. 7. Rom. 7 Psal 50 In libro de articulis falso sibi impositis Arti. 1. Cap. 3. Tract 17. In Luchirid ad LaurentiuÌ„ cap. 30. Origene Rom. 6. lib. 5 We are conceyued in originall sinne Homil. Hierom. cap. 47. Ambrose de vocatione geÌ„tium Lib. 1. Cap. 3 All men in the first man were created without sinne but by transgression he lost all purchased deth Bernard Sermone de passione domi ni feria quata hebdomadae poenosae The Papistes definition of original un Two thynges in euery sinne to be considered An other o biection The aunswer God câ—â—ated the first man heauenly lyke himself but yet added 〈◊〉 condition of hys obâ—dience Iâ—â— 14. we are all through Adam made bonde and thrall vnto sinne An other obiection An answer to the obiection In other obiection The aunswer The nature of the Serpent A false argument An other obiection The aunswer A proper mery history The definition of actuall sinne The definition of actuall sinne The teaching that there is but vii deadly sinnes is mere papistical false All sinne for the which death is due is of it selfe deadly un Rmo. 6 Rom. 3. Rom. 7 Rom. 8 Abac. 2 Hebr. 10 Iohn 8 The definition of veniall sinnes Act. 10 Deadly sinne veniall sinne are in diuers respects but one The difference betwene deadly sinne venial sinne The opinion of the scholemen concerning venial sinne The scholemen agree in error â–ª The false opinion doctrine of the papists Iohn 1. Math. 1. The difference betwene originall and actuall sin By Adam sinne entred into the world The wicked and damnable state that man of himselfe is in As God by hys iustice condemneth â—â—steth vs downe
brought in sinne and death 2. That that transgression made man an apt subiect for the two properties of God namely iustice and mercy to worke vpon 3. That for the manifestyng of maÌ„s subiection to both those properties the declaration of the law was nedefull wherein the condition of his estate might appeare 4. That the nature of the lawe is to be knowen and what is requisite to the fulfilling thereof and the contrarietie betwene the same the corrupt nature of man. 5. To what end the lawe should be geueÌ„ vnto man he hauing no power to satisfie any part of the same 6. How man regarded the lawe how in Christ the promised seede the couenaunt concerning mans restitution was consummate 7. How the obedience and death of Christ was a full satisfaction for the disobedience and deserued death purchased to al mankinde by AdaÌ„ 8. To enquire the nature of the new couenaunt what on the behalfe of maÌ„ is required to the atteinment of righteousnes in the same 9. To know the certaine tokens of that faith wherunto iustification is imputed the differeÌ„ce betwen the workes of the faithfull the workes required in the lawe 10. To know what iustificatioÌ„ or righteousnes it is which the scriptures attribute to works also what fayth it is against which S. Iames speaketh why iustificatioÌ„ is imputed to fayth and not to workes THE IMAGE of Nature and Grace ¶ That Adams wilfull transgression made him and his ofspring rebels to God and brought in sinne and death Cap. 1. THe eternal wisdome of God hauyng created Adam our first father after the excelleÌ„cie of his owne Image adorned naturally with iustice holines and all perfection to be vnto hym as it were the beauty and glory of all hys workes so aduaunced him by his creation aboue the rest of all his earthlye creatures that vnto him alone he gaue the rule and preheminence in nature to be their Lord and ruler That is to whome all they should obey and serue for the first taste of the which excellent dignitie and prerogatiue he placed theÌ„ all before him as before their soueraign Lord from his mouth to receiue seuerally their titles and proper names according to the whiche they all were called Then geuing Eua vnto hym for his helper he placed him in the garden of Eden the possession of all earthly delightes appointing vnto him the kéeping therof with frée libertie for hys reliefe and comfort to taste eate of all the excellent fruites therein the onely trée of knowledge of good and euill excepted of the whiche he forbade hym to eate affirmyng that what houre soeuer he tasted therof he shoulde dye the death Now forasmuch as the matters here spoken of namely the Image of God in man and mans originall iustice and perfection do iustly chalenge some explication therof as well that the excellency of Gods first benefites towardes man might after a certayne maner bée séene and the glorious estate of his former dignitie more gréedily thristed for agayne and also the outrage of his ingratitude with greater detestation abhorred and the filthines and foule corruption of his nature and miserye of his presente estate by vewe of his former perfection more perfectly paynted out And finally that the triumphe of Gods vnspeakeable mercy in Christe which notwithstanding so huge transgression hath not onely pardoned him but also adopted hym into the fellowship and libertie of his owne sonne that all these I say might be made the more apparaunt those wordes do iustly chalenge some explicatioÌ„ Wherfore where it is sayd that man was created after the image of God it is to bée vnderstand that he was created the most excellent earthly creature being made partener of the naturall goodnes and vertue of God namely holy wise iust pure good true immortall c. hauyng both power perfectly to know God also power and fréewil constantly to beleue him to serue him to obey him to loue him to feare him and to be shorte to perfourme such workes as aunswered to the image of so excellent a Paterne And therefore doth Tertullian writing agaynst Marcion moste excellently and briefly define the Image of of God thus Haec ergo imago censenda est dei in homine quod eosdem motus sensus habeat humanus animus quos deus heet non tales quâ—les deus pro substantia enim status exitus distant Therefore is this to be accouÌ„ted the image of God in man that the mynde of man must haue the same mouinges felings which god hath although not euen suche as God hath for as touching substance of state and ende they differ That is to say that is the image of God which naturally loueth that which god loueth hateth that which god hateth which of very nature iudgeth of all things according to the iudgemeÌ„t of God All which thinges were necessary to the duety of mans office for seyng God had made and created hym as it were his liuetenaunt or vicegerent ouer all his earthly creatures it was necessary that to their gouernement hys nature should participate of the excellent properties of God that thereby in the whole execution of his office hée might haue power not to swerue from his duty and obedience required in the same And hereby appeareth what originall righteousnes was in maÌ„ namely holines knowledge wisedome iustice purenes goodnes truth immortalitie loue temperance chastitie vnlust fréedome from sinne naturall and willing obedience to God hauing power to do good not to sinne not to dye c. and that he in respect of this excellente and glorious condicion of this original nature is called the image of god It is thus out of the Scriptures of God easily gathered Thus writeth Paul to the Ephesians Lay from you the olde maÌ„ which is corrupt through the deceiuable lustes and be ye renued in the spirit of your mynde and put on the new man which after God is shapen in righteousnes and true holines And again the same Paul to the Colos sayth Lye not one to another seyng ye haue put of the olde man with his workes and haue put on the newe which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that made him Now what the putting on of this new willingly forgetfull of his creator from whome he had not onely receyued hys beyng but also the prerogatiue of so excellent dignity He I say missed by deceitfull perswation neglecting the glorye of his creator rather gaue credite to the light perswasion of his wife then to the reuerend and dreadfull maiesty For his wife being deceiued by the serpent supposed the commaundemeÌ„t to haue bene geuen rather of subteltie to hinder their dignitye and as it were a scarcrowe to fray them from the tast of that fruite whereby their excellency might increase or as though God had rather not vouchsafed them that further good happe which by taste thereof was
The grace of Christ commeth freely and not for merues sake August de câ—uitate dei lib. 14. cap. 1 August de spiritu et litera cap. 18 Ibidem Cap. 13. By fayth to Iesus Christ we are iustified IbideÌ„ in Psal 31. No merits but mercy preueâ—ed out iustification August in expositione 2. Psal 31. IbideÌ„ in Psal 18. We are frely iustified in the bloud of Christ God of hys owne mercy hath saued vs. IdeÌ„ in Psal 5. IdeÌ„ in Psal 142. God for the glory of hys names ake doth freelye sane vs by his grace and mercy Idem de teÌ„pore sermone 49. Ambro. de vocatio gent. libro 1. cap. 5. Ad valent epist. 46 Idem lib. 2. homiliarum homilia 14 Augustine calleth such heretikes as ascribe grace to merite August Sexto epist. 105. Aug. Valentino et fratribus epist. 46 Contra duas epist. pelagionorum Lib. 1 IdeÌ„ ad Sextum Rom. praesi epist. 105. Idem libro 3. contra pelag hipognast cap. 37. De compuâ—tions cordis The reasoning of the aduersarirs Man is iustified thorow fayth wythout workes Rom. 3. Gal. 2. 25y works no man liuing shal be iustified Peter Lom bard Hilla lib. 4. de trinitate Hier. in epist. ad Gal. Cap. 1. The 〈…〉 e of the scripture consisteth not in the wordes but in the meaning of the same Workes folow iustification Fayth apprehendeth righteousnes and workes declare the apprehension Good workes declare vs to bee righteous Fayth apprehendeth Christ by whom we are made righteous The meaning of S. Iames wordes Note here the maner of speaking of S. Iames. Fayth with out workes is a dead fayth True fayth cannot be without good fruites Abrahams fayth had fruites S. Iames enueigheth not agaynst a true fayth but against a fayned false fayth Math. 19 The keping of the commaundementes of God were hable to iustify vs if we were hable to obserue them Leuit. 18 No man hath nor can keepe the lawes as God requireth them to be kept A questyon moued by a lawyer vnto Christ Christes aunswer to the lawiers question Luk. 5. This is a hard speeche to the louers of the worlde An other argument of the Papistes The Papistes accompte Christ to be very weake that beyng able to iustif 〈…〉 a man before he was conuerted were not also able to restore him if he fell after he was regenerate Hebr. 6. Hebr. 10 Luk. 12. 1. Iho. 2 Christ is our iustification both before Baptisme and after An other obiection The aunswere Rom. 4. Fayth doth iustify because it apprehendeth Christes iustification 1. Cor. 13. Fayth hope and loue Obiection Aunswere Loue fulfilleth the law Fayth is the instrument wherby we receaue our iustification by Christ An other obiection Aunswere Our iustification is done by Christ before our workes God worketh to saluation only in his children that is in the iustified God by his owne working and not be ours maketh vs his children All good workes are wrought by God in them that are iustified by fayth Psal 7. Psal 18 The righteous being vnder the mercilesse persecution lament and 〈…〉 e. The righteous cry out that they are no such offendours as the wicked report them to be The righteous offer the innocency of their causes to the iudge ment seat of god Dauid reioiceth that he held hys hand and hart from committing of wickednes against Saul 1. Sam. 20. The innoceÌ„cy of Dauid in respect of Saules crueltie Psal 51. Psal 38. 130. Psal 19. Psal 32. God must haue the whole honor of maÌ„s saluation IustificatioÌ„ why it is imputed to fayth and not to workes Eph. 2. No worke may be don vpon hope of reward 1. Cor. 11. August in epist. 1. IohaÌ„ nis tract Aduersus Iudaeos erat one The Table wherein note these two letters a. b. a. signifieth the first side of the leafe and b. the second A. ABrahams faith had frutes 112. b Adam created 1. a Adam deceaued by Eue hys wife 4. b Adam accuseth his wife 6. a Adam the firste man made vs bond and thrall vnto sinne 44. a Adams disobedience hath corrupted all mankynd 12. a. b Anavaptistes Pelagians and Papistes 11. b Argumentes made by the Papistes of good workes aunswered 95. a. b. 107. a. 115. a. 116. a. b. 117. a B BLasphemye to Christes death and passion 68. a C CHrist onely taketh away the sinnes of the world 19. a Christe the sonne of God was made man and borne of the virgine Mary 42. a Christ was perfect God perfect man. 43. b Christe is very righteousnes it selfe 43. a Christ is our Aduocate to the father 44. b Christe is our iustification both before Baptisme and after 116. b Christe the seconde man hath made vs free froÌ„ sinns 44. a Christe became accursed to make vs blessed 44. b Christ had payd the full taunsome of mannes transgression 44. a Christe iustifieth vs before we worke 119. a Conflictes attende continually vpon true fayth 81. b Corrupte doctrine of the Papistes 29. b D DAuid reioysed in hys innocency 121. a. b Death hath power ouer the vnrighteous 7. b Death hath power ouer the whole nature of man. 7. b Death is dew to all sinne 17. a Death and damnatioÌ„ reigneth ouer euery man. 19. b Deadly sinne excludeth fayth 17. a Deadly sinne veniall sinne what difference 18. a DefinitioÌ„ of actuall sinne 16. a Definition of veniall sinne 16. b Definition of loue 25. b. 26. a Definition of the law 29. a Degrees of perfection 29. b Definition of habite 49 b DefinitioÌ„ of fayth 56. b. 57. a. b Definition of workes 65. a. b. DefinitioÌ„ of iustification 62. b Definition of woorkes of the faythfull 84. b Difference betwene originall and actuall sinne 19. a Deuill is the enemy of mans felicitie 4. a Deuill and God there is no middle estate betwene them 67. a Deuill an enmie to vertuous lyfe 81. a Duetie or debt hath two senses or meanynges 101. a E. EDen the garden wherein man was placed at his first creation 1. a Errors of Papistes about workes 66. b Eue the woman was goueÌ„ vnto man to be his helper 1. b Eue deceiued by the deuil 4. b Exposition of this place of Iohn we haue receued grace for grace 48. b F. FAyth and deadly sinne can not stand together 17. b Fayth onely apprehendeth the promises of God. 47. a Fayth diuerslye taken in the Scriptures 55. b. 56. a Fayth what the scholemen thinke of it 56. a Fayth onely attayneth instification 70. a Fayth onely iustifieth proued by the Scriptures and anâ— cient fathers 70. b. 71. a. b 72. a. b. 73. a. b. 74. a. b. 75. a. b 76. a. b. 77. a. b. 78. a. b Fayth is not the efficient cause of our iustification but God onely 78. b. 79. a Fayth is aceompanied wyth newnes of life 79. b. 80. a. b 81. a Faythe is made knowne by good workes 82. a Fayth hope and loue 118. a Fayth is the instrument wherby we receyue iustification 118. b
where he teacheth the cause of errour he sheweth the same to bee ignoraunce of the Scriptures Ye erre sayth he because ye know not the Scriptures Wherefore if your blinde teachers seeke to witholde you frō the Scriptures you see they deceaue you for these be they only that can witnes the truth How greatly in the Actes of the Apostles are they of Berea commended where the reason is geuen of their great readines in receauing the Gospell for they dayly searched the Scriptures whether those thinges were so you see that the Scriptures the law and the Prophets are onely the witnes and auouchers of the truth These men went not to the fathers writings to enquire whether the Apostles sayd true but they went to the Scriptures as to the piller of trust whose witnes they were sure could neuer deceaue them Thus where your seducers would make you beleue that the Scriptures belong not to you they falsely deceaue you as now they may see the text beareth recorde that these of Berea were both men women and that not a fewe Chrysostome in his Homely of Lazarus and the riche man exhorteth all men to the reading of the scriptures and specially by name occupiers marchantes and householders alledging that they can neuer attain saluation without continuall trauell in the Scriptures affirming that they haue more neede to read the Scriptures then holiermen for that they continually passe their life in greater danger Thus vehemently doth this good father exhort all mē to the reading of the Scriptures which your vncharitable teachers aboue all thinges forbid you and yet you see both out of Paul and Christ himselfe this rule confirmed that all true doctrine hath the witnes of the lawe and the Prophets that is the witnes of the Scriptures Whereby you must examine the truth of your fayth and vtterly condemne all maner of doctrine that hath not this witnes he geueth to the Galathians this absolute decree If we sayth he or an Angell from heauen preach vnto you otherwise thē that which we haue preached vnto you let him be accursed By these rules examine the counterfeite doctrine of your faithles deceiuers search the bottome of their Masse or propitiatory sacrifice say iustly vnto them it hath not the witnes of the lawe and the Prophets no witnes of the Scriptures They bring a newe doctrine ye muste holde them accursed Likewise for theyr praying to Saintes their Purgatory their pilgrimages theyr holybread theyr holy water theyr ringing their senssing their worke of the worker their executed workes their vndewe workes their lyftynges theyr crossinges theyr breathynges their bendynges theyr dombe shewes their washyngs their annoyntings theyr shauynges their reliques and a thousād such follies you may iust ly say to them they haue not the witnes of the law and the Prophets no witnes of Scriptures they preach a new doctrine you must hold thē accursed If they gentle Reader ment to deale playnely with you they could easely tel you that their doctrine can not abide to be examined by the Scriptures of God they could tell you that the greatest indeuour and study of the chief pillers of their fayned Religion is clerely to deface and discredite the scriprures but they will neuer tell you that for thē they be sure you will credit them no farther And because you may know that I tell you the truth I will in hys owne wordes rehearse the sentences of one of their owne Cardinals concerning the same Thus writeth the Cardinal Cusa Certè hoc te non moueat quòd diuersis temporibus alius alius ritus sacrificiorum etiam Sacramentorum stante veritate inuenitur Scripturásque esse ad tēpus adaptatas variè intellectas ita vt vno tempore secundum currentē vniuersalem ritum exponentur mutato ritu iterū sententia mutaretur Truly let not this moue thee that with diuersitie of tyme there is founde diuers formes both of sacrifices and Sacramētes the truth neuertheles remaynyng and that the Scriptures are framed to the tyme and diuersly vnderstand so that one tyme they must be vnderstand accordynge to the vniuersall custome and when that custome agayne is chaunged the meanyng of the Scriptures agayne must be chaunged Gentle reader marke this opē blasphemy for the word of God abydeth for euer That is to say is euer one the same And Dauid sayth that it is an vndefiled law But if this man say true no doctrine can be more filthy for what greater corruption can be attributed to any then to be inconstant vncertayne still mutable with time but beare him yet further Thus sayth he in an other place to confirme the same doctrine Quare nec mirum si praxis Ecclesiae vno tempore interpretatur scripturam vno modo alio tempore alio modo Intellectus enim qui cū praxi cōcurrit est spiritus viuificans It is no merueile if the practise of the Churche interpret the Scriptures at one tyme one waye and an other way at another tyme for the meanyng whiche goeth with the practise is a quickenyng spirite If this to a Christiā cōsciēce be not horror then what may offend it Truly gentle reader if thou belong vnto God thy hart can not but tremble at such fearefull blas phemy and yet is this one of the principall pillars of that bewitchyng Synagoge wherevpon your teachers would haue your faith grounded if you knowing and seyng wil runne to destruction ye worthely perishe but I hope better of you This haue I sayd to make you know them what they would tell you if they durst vtter all Nowe touchyng this treatise I haue therin offred no doctrine vnto you but that which is witnessed by the lawe and the Prophetes Namely by the Scriptures vnto euery part wherof after the same is confirmed by the Scriptures I haue added the fathers sentēces which were of the sounder iudgement to shew that both they we do acknowledge one truth whereunto I haue added the shameles and subtile shifts of some of your false teachers captains I meane Some of the head Papistes and principall Scholemen bewraying their trechery wherin gētle reader this onely I craue at thy handes to read with patience examine by the rule of S. Paul and Christ him selfe which of vs soeuer hath not witnes of the law and the Prophetes the Scripture of God thinke he bryngeth a new doctrine holde hym accursed The Lord if it be his holy will open your eyes that you may perfectly see and constantly confesse hys victorious truth in the will of his onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ before whom in that great day shall truth be crowned and errour cōdemned to the glory of hys name and endeles felicitie of all the eelect amongest whom the Lorde place vs to whom be all glory and prayse for euer Amen ¶ The Argumentes of the Chapiters 1. THat Adams willfull transgression made him his ofspring rebels to God