Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
spirit_n beget_v father_n son_n 11,645 5 6.8465 4 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A02928 The vvay of lyfe A Christian, and catholique institution comprehending principal poincts of Christian religion, which are necessary to bee knowne of all men, to the atteyning of saluation. First delyuered, in the Danish language for the instruction of those people, by Doctor Nicolas Hemmingius, preacher of the Gospell, and professor of diuinitie, for the Kynge of Denmarcke, in his Uniuersitie of Hafnia: and about three yeares past, (for the commoditie of others) translated into Latine, by Andrew Seurinus Velleius: and now first, and newly Englished, for the commodity of English readers: by N. Denham, this yeare of our redemption. 1578.; Via vitae. English Hemmingsen, Niels, 1513-1600.; Denham, Nicholas. 1578 (1578) STC 13067; ESTC S103963 117,088 234

There are 5 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

neuer sinned or offended GOD and that we should feele a true greefe sorrowe of heart for our sinnes committed Hee which is gone so farre forwarde hee at the length rightly acknowledgeth how ioyfull that message of the Gospell is which offereth to the beleeuers Remission of sinnes the fauour of GOD Righteousnesse and life euerlasting But what is FAITH These two manners of speaking namely To beeleeue in Christ And To beleeue in the name of Christe will plainly declare vnto vs the substance of Fayth The former sentence namely To beleeue in Christe sheweth Christe onely to be the obiect of Fayth or sure confidence so that Saluation is not to be hoped for but in him alone The latter namely To beleeue in the name of Christe sheweth the qualitie of Fayth that is to say that our confidence in Christe should be such as his name is in the Gospell and as his doinges are which testifie of him When as Christe therefore is in the Gospell named the Sauiour of all whiche beleeue in him very GOD very MAN one true and eternall person and the Lambe of GOD taking away the sinnes of the worlde And many examples doe testifye that the dooinges of Christe doe aunswere vnto this honourable name as the example of the Theefe vpon the Crosse the example of Mary Magdalen of Paule Peeter and innumerable others it appeareth that true Fayth in CHRISTE is A liuely and constant confidence of the heart whereby it is surely decreede that CHRISTE is the Sauiour of all those whiche beleeue in him as hee whiche is able to bring to passe all thinges whiche hee will as GOD whiche wylleth the beste vnto vs as MAN by the societie of nature ioyned vnto vs whiche muste as the Mediatour betwene GOD and vs appointed of the Father whiche hath giuen himselfe a pryce of redemption for vs that euery one whiche beleeueth might bee cleansed from Sinne by his bloode might bee iustifyed by his obedyence regenerated to euerlastinge lyfe by his spirite through the vnmeasurable mercie of GOD the Father which so loued the worlde that hee woulde giue his onely begotten Sonne that ALL VVHICHE BELEEVE IN HIM should not perish but haue life euerlasting This fuller description of a constant faythe may bee drawne more narowe and that out of the words of Iohn Baptist Hee which beleeueth in the Sonne hath eternall life in this manner Faith is a knowledge of Christe and a sure cōfidence of obtayning eternall life through him Such was the faith of the Theefe vpon the crosse which from a sure trust sayde Remember me Lorde when thou commest into thy kingdome To whom it was answered of the Lord This day shalt thou be with me in Paradice Such was the faith of the sinfull woman in the 7. of Luke which heard of the Lord Thy faith hath saued thee In like manner of the Publicane Luke the 18. praying on this wise God bee mercifull vnto me a sinner And of Dauid Psal 25. Be mercifull vnto my sinne O Lord for thy name sake All these doe agree to the rule in Psal 2. Blessed are all they which put their trust in him Now after that we haue described FAITH we wil recite fiue properties of y e same by which as by infallible notes euery one may knowe whether he hath the True Faith or no. The first propertie of faith is That it is felte in the heart The second is That it offereth it selfe to bee seene in the outwarde deedes The third is That it suffereth it selfe to be tryed vnder the Crosse The fourth That it ouercōmeth the world The fift That it perseuereth vnto the ende which is as Peter witnesseth The saluation of Soules The first propertie of Faith is this That it liueth in the heart of man so that there may bee felte an vnspeakeable consolation against the malediction of the lawe the power of death and the tyranny of the Deuill that there may bee felte a ioy vnable to be tolde of the forgiuenesse of sinnes and a spirituall securitie of the fauour and freendship of God that the dwelling of the holy Ghoste and his presence in the heart of the man may be perceiued that the force of the holy Ghoste stirring vp fayth to call vpon God may be perceiued that a burning desire to obey the will of God and to resist the Deuil may bee perceiued that a spirituall ioy of the beginning of the life eternall may bee felte that thankfulnesse towarde God may be perceiued Breefely wheresoeuer a Christian faith is in man there it must needes be that she must shew foorth her selfe by true godlynesse by a holy porpose of lyuing well and by reioycing in the holy ghost Secondly I affirme this to be the property of Faith That in outwarde woorkes shee offereth her selfe to be seene For the outwarde woorkes doe beare witnesse of the affections of the heart Therefore Christe sayth By their frutes ye shall know them It is therfore impossible that whersoeuer true faith florisheth in the heart by the holy Ghoste dwelling in the heart of man that there should not therewithall bee present good woorks testifying of the hart These workes of faith are in generall to eschue euil and to doe good so that faith be the foundation the beginning the leader and gouernesse of all vertues and good actions For first of all Fayth is the piller or foundation wherupon is stayed and vpon the whiche is builded all obedience vertue and euery good woorke Furthermore it is the beginning from which as from a liuing fountain the riuers of all honest workes and doings doe flowe out Moreouer It is the leader whiche holdeth man in the right way least hee shoulde decline either to the right hand that is to say to good intentions of men as they call them which wil worship God according to their owne wisedome and traditions or vnto the left that is to say to the workes of the Deuill whereunto this worlde with the members of the Deuil hath wholy giuen and bound it selfe Yea Eayth beeing the Captaine of all vertue and Christian works neuer resteth it self in any deede obiected or set before it before y t it heare this worde So the mouth of the Lorde speaketh Therfore Dauid through fayth prayeth in the 25. Psal Shew me thy wayes O Lord and teach me thy pathes And Psal 119. he sayth Blessed are the vndefiled in the way that is they whiche through faith shew obedience vnto GOD so that they goe forward in the right way declining neither to the right hand nor to the left Last of all faith is also the Gouernesse directing the whole life of man and all his works to this marke namely to the glory of God the edificatiō of the church and y e vtilitie of his neighbour All these works of Faith already remembred may bee called backe to these foure pointes following The first is a declaration of godlynesse in the outward workes of this life namely in the
in this Mounteyne and yee saye that at Ierusalem is the place where menne ought to woorship From this opinion Christe calleth backe the Woman and propoundeth vnto her the true manner of woorshippinge namely That shee must worship the Father in Spirit and in the truth When hee sayth IN THE SPIRITE hee maketh a difference beetweene that prayer which proceedeth onely from the mouth and that which proceedeth from the Spirite which Spirite worketh fayth in the heart of man whervpon dependeth and from which proceedeth true adoration When hee sayth IN THE TRVETH he interpreteth two old figures the former of the mountayne in which Iacob prayed the latter of the place which was at Ierusalem and was called THE PROPITIATORIE For that Mountayne of Iacob did put vs in minde that when wee praye wee should not respecte anye dignity of places in the worlde but that from all the lowe valleyes of this world wee should lifte vp our heartes vnto the Hilles that is to say vnto Heauen And Christe willeth the same thinge when hee commaundeth those that praye to say Our Father which art IN HEAVEN The latter figure Christe expoundeth when hee sayth They shall woorship the Father IN THE TRVETH This Trueth is set against this place at Ierusalem which was called THE PROPITIATORIE For this place was a figure of the true propitiatorie Iesus Christe our onely Mediatoure without whom there is no entraunce open for anye to enter into the Holy of Holyes that is to say into Saluation and lyfe euerlasting By this reason is also excluded from Christian prayer all hypocrisie and therewithall is necessarily required true and feruent Zeale of minde in the time of prayer so that there must bee a consonancie and agreement of the heart and mouth that the one say or speake not otherwise thā the other thinketh Thus it is shewed that THE FEARE OF GOD is the beste keeper of fayth and of a good Conscience in vs as beeing that thinge which studiously auoydeth Sinne obeyeth the Commaundementes of God dilygently bewareth the deceiptes of the flesh the worlde and the Deuill and beefore all thinges seeketh in these manifolde daungers of the worlde helpe at the handes of GOD by earnest and Christian prayer and by this meanes perseuereth constaunt vnto the ende that is to say endureth so longe vntill GOD calleth vs from this vale of misery and receyueth into Heauen to himself the soules of the godly which depart from hence in the inuocation of Christe their bodyes in the meane season restinge in the duste of the earth subiect to corruption in testimonye of the iuste Iudgemente of God which shall rayse vp agayne our bodyes in the last day and beeinge agayne restored to their soules shall quicken them that we his Children may enioy eternall lyfe and beeinge finally taken awaye from all chaunges and daungers of this world may remaine in perpetual ioyes with the Lord and our only Sauiour IESV CHRIST to whom with the Father and the holy ghost bee prayse honour and glory for euer and euer Amen These thinges I purposed to write of the principal poinctes of our religion for their sakes which do vnderstand our common Language Which I also will to remayne in place of the Confession of my fayth and doctrine which I haue taught and professed in this Schoole of Hafnia about the space of 30. yeares I beeseeche the Christian Readers that of this and other my writinges they would iudge not by the quarellings of vnlearned prowd spirites but by the woord of GOD. GOD bee mercifull vnto his Church and with clemency turne away the dissentions and corruptions of the pure Doctrine and assist vs all with his holy spirite by whose assistaunce wee may in such sort daily increase in the knowledge of the true God in fayth and newnesse of lyfe that in the last day wee may bee founde in the number of the elect children of God through IESVS CHRISTE our Lorde Amen A small forme of Daily Prayer to bee daily vsed A Thankesgeuing for all God his giftes and Benefites in generall O Eternall God and mercifull Father I giue thee thankes by thy welbeloued Sonne our only Mediatour Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ for all thy giftes and benefites aswel Corporall as Spirituall temporall and eternall which are moe and farre greater than that they may bée either in minde cōceiued or with woords expressed For the preseruation of the Church or Congregation of Christe I I béeséeche thée most mercifull God and heauenly Father by the name of thine onely begotten sonne to defend thy Church and Congregation in all partes of the worlde and conserue the purity of thy woorde that the kingedome of thy Sonne may bee increased throughout all the worlde and that many may declare thy goodnesse and mercy for euer For the Realme Prince Counsayllours and euery estate of lyfe O Almighty God and heauenly Father geue vnto this Land safe and peaceable gouernaunce vnder thy protection gouerne with thy holy spirte our most mercifull Soueraigne the Counsayllours of the Realme and euery one in his estate of lyfe that wée may leade a quiet lyfe in all godlynesse and honesty to thy glory For the forgiuenesse of sinnes and obteyninge of grace WIpe out O Father of mercies all mine iniquities through and for thy Sonne his sake crucified and raysed vp agayne for vs ▪ with the righteousnesse of thine onely begotten Sonne make mée righteous cleanse my hearte with thy holy Spirite teache mée thy waies and lead mée in thy trueth make clean my minde that all wicked cogitations corrupt affections and vnhappy counsayles carelesse stubbernes and to conclude all wicked factes may departe farre from the same illuminate the same with the light of thy grace that it may couet will desire and doo those thinges only which are pleasaunt vnto thée and holesome and proffitable for the Church of Christ For the ayde of God in the needefull businesses of our vocation GIue mée vnderstanding O Lorde and assiste mine indeuoures that I may faithfully and diligently perfourme the woorkes of my vocation to the glory of thy name the edification of thy Church and the commodity of my neyghbour For the grace of God to lyue well and dye well GRaunt mercifully O Lord that by thy assistance I may perseuere in holding fast a liuely fayth and a good conscience vnto the last breath of this lyfe that when my hower shal come I may quietly sléepe in the Inuocation of my Lord Iesu Christe and that I may obteyne eternall life through him in the which life I may with all the electe for euer honour and glorifie thée To thée alone bee honour prayse and glory with thy Sonne which lyueth with thee in the vnity of the holy Ghost one God world without ende Amen FINIS Rom. 1. Ihon. 3. Heb. 11. Rom. 14. Ioh. Iohn 17 verse 3 Psal 84. 1 Cor. 13. Psal 5. Psal 18. 1 Tim. 1. What this grace is Roma 5. What this glory is and
to me to establish the same moste woorthy Gentleman vnder your name that thing is doone that I might declare my self to be mindeful of very many benefits which haue beene by you to mewards perfourmed these 21. yeeres now together from that time wherin that magnificent and gentle Gentleman your brother Nicolas Kaaes was first committed to my fidelitie and discipline I beseeche God that for his only begotten sonne our Lorde IESVS CHRISTE he will conserue the puritie of his worde in this Kingdome of Denmarke to the glory of his name and the saluation of many and that with his holy spirit he would gouerne the indeuours of those which either in the ecclesiasticall or politicall estate which shall go about to set forewarde his Gospell that the kingdome of the Deuill beeing destroyed the Temple of Christe may in our hearts be builded Amen That ye also by the fauour and goodnesse of GOD may long time be preserued safe and in good health I wish of God from my whole heart through Iesus Christe our Lord. From Haffnia the feast day of Martin in the yeere of our Lord. 1570. A CHRISTIAN AND Catholike Institution comprehending principall pointes of Christian Religion which are necessarie to be knowen of man to the attayning of saluation THe Princely and diuine Prophete Dauid in the 119. Psalme sheweth that al mankind is so blinded with the darcknesse of ignorance that he cannot perceiue the right way of saluation vnlesse he bee of God himself by his healthfull worde brought into this right path in these words Thy word is a Lanterne vnto my feete as though he would say euen as without thy word O LORD I must of necessitie goe astray so by the benefite of thy word whiche I esteeme to be as a Lanterne to me to my saluation I tread the right way and as long as I followe this light going before me that is to say Thy worde I cannot goe astray or be deceiued Which thing happeneth alike to al other people in the world For which cause also they are not amisse compared vnto straying Sheepe which wandring farre from the Shephearde sheepfolde must if they will be brought back againe heare the voice of their Shepheard and as a burning light followe the same Forasmuch therfore as I haue determined in this present writing to dispute of the VVay of Saluation it seemeth good vnto mee first of all to followe this counsell of Dauid and to shewe foorth this healthsome Lanterne whiche leadeth all people into eternall ioy and saluation as many as perseuering vnto the last hower of death shall followe the same going before them And because this same Laterne whiche we call The worde of God is diuided into two partes namely into the Law and the Gospel I will in the beginning set downe a text out of the 22. Chapter of S. Matthew which as it were in a Tableture shall set before our eyes these two kindes of doctrines which are moste specially needefull to be knowen vnto saluation Moreouer I will in such wise declare these two principall fountaines with the other articles comprehended vnder these particularly but yet somewhat plentifully plainely that nothing at all may be let passe which is behouefull for them to knowe beleeue or doe which desire to be made partakers of eternall saluation The wordes of the Euangelist are these Matth. 22. THE Pharises hearing that he had put the Saduces to silence they came together one of them a certaine Doctour of the Lawe asked him a question tempting him and saying Maister which is the greatest commaundement in the lawe IESVS saith vnto him THOV shalte looue the LORDE thy GOD with all thy hearte and with all thy minde and with all thy soule This is the firste and the greatest commaundement and the second is like like vnto this THOV shalt loue thy neighbour as thy self In these two commaundements hang all the LAW the PROPHETS VVhilst the Pharises were gathered together Iesus asked them saying what think ye of CHRISTE whose Sonne is he They say vnto him The sonne of DAVID He saith vnto them How then doth Dauid in spirit call him LORD saying The Lord said vnto my Lorde Sit thou on my right hand vntill I make thine enemies thy footestoole If Dauid therefore cal him LORD how is he then his SONNE And no man was able to aunswere him any thinge neither durst any man from that day foorth aske him any moe questions In this text of the Gospell recited are contained two questions most cheefe and weightie of all others which may be brought forth of the scripture touching the attayning of saluation The first question is propounded by the Pharisies the other by our Lorde Iesus Christe The Pharisies through notable malice of hart and vnmeasurable hatred wherwith they pursued Christe doe mooue a question concerning the lawe and demaund of Iesus which is the greatest commaundement in the Lawe for in asmuch as Christ condempned the Pharisies which esteemed them selues to liue according to the lawe and would bring in Baptisme whereof there was no mention made in the Lawe they thought that he would speake somthing rashly against the Lawe of Moses that they by this meanes might haue occasion to accuse him and take him out of the way CHRIST on the other side hauing cōpassion on the great blindenes of the Pharises asketh thē what they thought of Christ whose sonne he is and that thing he doth with this intent that an occasion might bee giuen him wherby he might instruct and teach them forth of the Scripture what they should esteeme of Christ that is to say of him whom God promised to Adam Abraham and the rest of the holy fathers to be the Sauiour of the worlde Furthermore that these questiōs of the Law and of Christe may the more cōmodiously serue vs to the furtheraunce instruction of saluation I wil chuse frō hence three doctrines which the grace of GOD assisting I will declare in order FIRST of the causes by whiche the Pharisies beeing mooued go about to take Christe out of the way and what crafts they vse to bring this wicked purpose to effect SECONDLY of the true vnderstanding and vse of the Lawe THE THIRD of CHRISTE namely what we ought to esteeme of him And howe wee obtaine saluation through him The first Doctrine THE IEVVES and cheefly the Pharises went about this thing with great indeuor That they might tangle Christ in his wordes being caught they might quarell with him and at the length deliuer him to death Behold therfore how great the diuersitie of minde is of the one towards the other in Christe in the Pharises IESVS sought this only thing y t they beeing deliuered from sin he might saue them but the Pharises craftely catch his words wherby they might accuse and oppresse him This waywardnes of mindes is at this daye alas for sorowe found in many which persecute those which wish well vnto
on either part The Pharises goe about this busines not because they would learne but with a desire to quarel and to destroy but Christ by his question intendeth this thing that he might thorowly bring them to the knowledge and possession of assured saluation Let vs heare therfore what is done on either side Christe demaundeth VVhat think yee of CHRISTE whose Sonne is he They fay vnto him The Sonne of Dauid this answere they gaue because they knew y t Christe should be borne of the seed of Dauid according to y e promise made vnto him But forasmuch as this suffised not to the true knowing of Christ Christ by this question inferreth another by the which hee indeuoreth to lead them into a fuller knowledge of Christe Therfore he saith How then doth Dauid in spirit call him LORD saying The Lorde saide vnto my Lord sit thou on my right hand vntill I make thine enemies the footestole of thy feet If Dauid therfore call him Lorde how is he then his Sonne As if Christ would say The father is superiour to the sonne and the sonne must bee subiect to the father And the Lord is superiour to the seruant and the seruant must be subiect to his Lord How then commeth it to passe that Dauid acknowledgeth Christe to be his Lorde to whome with all lowlinesse of minde he wholly submitteth himself Heere if the Iewes had admitted to counsaile the holye Scripture declaring of Christ and had a little while considered with them selues what the office of Christe should be in the worlde they had easily founde this answere Christe in respect of the humane nature which he tooke vnto him is the sonne of Dauid but in respect of the deuine nature he is the sonne of GOD. As farre foorth therefore as appertaineth to the humane nature he is in appearance base and poore but as farre foorth as appertaineth to the deuine nature hee is Lord of Lords and King of Kings to whome Dauid must giue place and humbly bowe his knees yea of him only and by this onely one receiue forgiuenesse of sinnes righteousnesse and life euerlasting Of this CHRISTE his Lord Dauid speaketh in the Psalme 51. where he saith Thou shalt purge me with Hisope and I shall be cleane Thou shalt wash me and I shalbe whiter then snowe Likewise Psal 130. If thou Lord wilt marke what is done amisse O Lord who shal abide it But there is mercy with thee therefore shalt thou be feared By this MERCYE or peopitiation hee vnderstandeth Christe which after the humane nature should be borne of him but after the deuine nature very GOD from euerlasting After this manner Christe by the question propounded by him would reduce the Iewes to the true knowledge of Christe wherein as I haue saide consisteth eternall life and the wisdome of saluation as Paule teacheth 1. Corin. 1. where he saith For asmuch as the worlde knewe not GOD through wisdome that is to saye through vnderstanding and reason naturally ingraffed in man by God In the wisedome of God that is in the meruelous woorks of God which are wrought by him It pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching to saue those whiche beeleeue For the Iewes require signes and the Greekes seeke wisdome but wee preache Christe crucifyed vnto the Iewes an offence and vnto the Greekes foolishnesse but vnto bothe Iewes and Greekes which are called we preache Christ the power of GOD and the wisdome of GOD. Paule in this place disseuereth the wisdome of the worlde or mans wisdome from the wisdome of GOD. For in that that GOD sent his sonne borne of a woman made bonde vnto the Lawe and subiecte to moste bitter passion and death it seemed vnto men not wisdome but foolishnesse forasmuch as GOD by his omnipotencie could easily finde another way to saue mankinde But it seemeth farre otherwise vnto God yea that which men esteemed foolishnesse that GOD esteemeth and accompteth for wisdome But that wee may more fully vnderstande these things let vs seek the foundation of this the so wounderfull counsaile of GOD wherevpon we may builde safely Although GOD if we consider the greatnesse of his power coulde doe whatsoeuer hee would yet notwithstanding it seemed good to him to attempte nothing in this matter but that whiche was agreeable to the iustice and glorye of his maiestie diuine that is to saye that whiche all Angels aswell good as euill and all people yea and all creatures shoulde acknowledge to bee in very deede iuste and praise worthy saying Glory bee to GOD on hyghe For euen as any Kinge or Tyrant when he graunteth vnto one that which hee hath taken away from another may be said to play the part partely of an vniuste and partely of a lyberall man Euen so GOD if vsing his power only he had restored man it had beene on the one parte derogation to his Iustice and on the other parte too muche had beene graunted to mercy therefore it was needefull to finde suche a way to saue man that these foure properties in GOD without the whiche GOD coulde not BEE or be called GOD might stande together and consent in the hyest degrees namely MOSTE HIGH or PERFECT POVVER PERFECTE RIGHTEOVSNESSE PERFECT MERCIE and PERFECT VVISDOME Suche a secret purpose pleaseth God therefore That his onely begotten sonne should take vnto him mans nature and dye to the ende that who so beleeueth in him may obtaine saluation and life euerlasting So that if GOD had vsed his omnipotencie and Iustice hee had for euer condemned all men who through their rebellion had offended the eternall maiestie of God and were therefore subiect giltie of eternall death and Hel. But what had then beene the praise of his mercy Where then shoulde the glory of his wisedome haue had place Man without all fauour condempned had perished and the wisdome of GOD of the ende of his counsaile whereby hee had appoynted manne beeing made according to his owne Image to eternall saluation had beene voyde and frustrate That nothing at all therefore might be derogated from the PERFECT IVSTICE of God It pleased him that euen as by the disobedience of one man wee are all made giltie so by the obedience of one many should be made righteous God him selfe should bee satisfyed and wee beeing deliuered from guiltynesse shoulde bee indowed with life euerlastynge Heere also shineth foorth the PERFECT and great MERCIE of GOD whiche so loued the worlde that he would giue his owne onely begotten Sonne that All which beleeue in him should not perishe but haue life euerlasting Heere withall is also seene the PERFECTE POVVER OF GOD in that that by the death of his Sonne hee hath ouercome Death Hell Sinne and all the power of the Deuil Heere also appeareth the PERFECTE VVISDOME of God in this thinge cheefely that by his Sonne whiche is the naturall Image of him selfe and coeternall with him hee reneweth his owne Image in vs and giueth vnto vs eternall life wherevnto
that in the twinckling of an eye he must of necessitie be GOD. Sixtly and lastly it requireth that the Mediatour doe giue to those whiche are raysed vp which in the true faith haue departed this life eternall life perpetuall glorie and conformitie with GOD. But who can bring this to passe but onely GOD Wee haue therefore aboundantly shewed That our Sauiour and Mediatour is GOD And why it was needefull that hee should be very GOD. Of the third point or Chapter IN THE THIRD PLACE wee haue proponed of Christe that hee is VERY MAN And why it was needefull that the Mediatour should bee man The whole vniuersall Churche as it beleeueth Christe to be borne very man So that he also at this day is and for euer shall remaine very man it doth godlyly confesse Genes 3. The seede of the woman which shall breake the head of the Serpent is promised By the name of THE SEEDE OF THE VVOMAN without all doubt the nature of man which our Mediatour at the time appointed by the father should take vnto him is signifyed GOD promised to Abraham that in his seede all nations should be blessed Hee promised also to Dauid that his sonne should sit vpon his seate and reigne for euer Esaie 7. Beholde a virgin shall conceiue and bring foorth a Sonne and thou shalt call his name EMANVEL that is to say which shalbe GOD and MAN With these Prophecies agreeth the whole History Euangelicall The Angel beeing sent to the virgin Marie saith Beholde thou shalt conceiue in thy wombe and shalt bring foorth a Sonne and thou shalt call his name IESVS he shalbe great and shalbe called the Sonne of the hyest VVhiche thing when she had heard she meruayled and saide How can this thing bee forasmuch as I knowe not man And the Angell aunswered vnto her The holy Ghoste shall come vppon thee and the power of the moste hyest shall ouershadowe thee that is to say Thou shalt conceiue and bring foorth not by the seede of man or after the common lawe of nature but by the power and wise counsaile of GOD. And so the Angell concludeth his oration with this sentence worthy to be remembred with GOD nothing shall bee impossible The eight day after his natiuitie hee was Circumcised according to the lawe after the manner obserued in other Infantes of the Iewes He was brought vp by Ioseph and Mary hee greewe in wisedome and in fauour with GOD men was he found altogether a naturall man hauing body and soule and all condition and properties of humane nature sin onely excepted This is the summe of the Christian fayth touching the manhood of Iesu Christe as wee confesse in the articles of the Symbole when we say I beleeue in IESVS CHRISTE our Lorde which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Mary But why was it needfull that the Mediatour should be VERY MAN Foure causes may be rehearsed out of the holy Scriptures why it was needefull that the Messias should bee man 1. The Iustice of GOD. 2. The restoring of the Image of GOD in man agayne which through Sinne was lost 3. The manner of Adoption 4. The assurance of our Resurrection frō death First THE IVSTICE OF GOD required that the disobedience in our flesh committed should bee amended in the same For it was agreeable to the order of the Iustice of GOD that in asmuch as mankinde in one Adam had firste offended so some body in mankinde fre from sinne should sustaine the paiues whiche should bee the price for the rest Our Lorde therefore tooke mans nature vnto him was made man shewing forth as it were the person of Adam himselfe whose name is also attributed vnto him y t he might thorowly satisfie the punishment of sinne in the flesh beeing in flesh committed Therefore Paule Rom 5. saith If by the sinne of one death reigned by the meanes of one namely Adam much more they which receiue abundance of Grace and of the gifte of Righteousnesse shall reigne in life by the meanes of one Iesus Christe Item As by the disobedience of one Adam many All men became sinners So by the obedience of one of Christe many are made righteous Item 1. Corin. 15. For by a man Adam came death And by a man Iesus Christe came the resurrection from Death Hebr. 2. Forasmuch as the Children are partakers of flesh and blood he himselfe also in like case tooke parte with them that through death he might abolish him which had the rule of death that is to say the Deuill Heerevnto also appertaineth that saying of Irenaeus It behoued him whiche should begin to slea sinne and to redeeme man which was guiltie of death to be made the selfe same thing that is to say Man And Augustine saith flesh had blinded thee flesh doth heale thee because Christe came in such wise that by fleshe he might quench the corruptions of the flesh The second cause is THE RESTORING OF THE IMAGE OF GOD according vnto which man was created This thing could by no meanes bee doone but by the naturall Image of GOD that is the euerlasting and onely begotten sonne of GOD which therfore tooke mans nature vnto him that he might againe restore the Image of God in all those which through a liuely faith are into his body ingraffed Whereof Athanisius saieth It was conuenient that the Sonne should take man his nature vnto him that this person whiche is the substantiall Image of the Father might restore againe the Image of GOD in vs. The thirde cause was that the reason of our ADOPTION did require the same For the Sonne of God did therefore take the nature of man vnto him that hee might make vs the Sonnes of God He would therfore by the societie of nature bee ioyned vnto vs and become our brother that we beeing become his members might be made the sonnes of God For we are therefore called and are the Children of God because wee are by faith in CHRIST whiche is the naturall sonne of God For in him alone wee are beloued and Sonnes Iohn 1. To as many as beleeued on his name hee gaue power to be made the Sonnes of GOD. Gal. 4. VVhen the fulnesse of time was come GOD sent his Sonne made of a woman made bond vnto the lawe that he might redeeme those which were vnder the lawe that we might receiue the Adoption of Sonnes Because ye are the Sonnes of GOD therefore GOD hath sent the Spirit of his Sonne into our hearts crying Abba Father In this sentence also speaketh Irenaeus VVe could not be saith he partakers of the Adoption of his Sonnes vnlesse we had receiued the same by his Sonne that is to say vnlesse his Sonne had beene made man The fourth cause THE ASSVRANCE force and efficacie of OVR RESVRRECTION consisteth in this that our Mediatour is man For the only hope and assurance which we haue of the Resurrection of our bodyes is that Christ