I count all things but loss, 1for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have counted all things loss, and do judge them to be dung that I might win Christ. And might be found in him, that is, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God through faith. For look as nothing in a poor man can make him rich, further then it doth get riches into his possession; so nothing in us sinners can make us righteous to life, further then it doth lay hold on such a righteousness, which can take away sin, and make v• righteous to the receiving of life eternal. Faith is c•lled the faith of Christ, 2because Christ is he whom faith doth apprehend and receive to righteousness and life, according to that of the Evangelist;3 He that believeth on the Son of God hath life everlasting. That is the principal object of faith, for which embraced and received by faith, eternal life is given from grace.4 But eternal life is given of grace for Christ embraced or rested upon by Faith.a To believe Christ dead and risen, as the Apostles taught him, is true belief: but that is not barely to believe the history of his Death and Resurrection, but the fruits and benefits thereof, and that wi•h the affiance. It is so to believe the Death and Resurrection of Christ, as thereby to look for forgiveness of sins: which is to put our trust in the special mercy of God through Jesus Christ. This is plain by the words of Martha; for when Christ asked her,6 Doest thou believe this, that whosoever believeth on me shall not die everlastingly; She answereth, yea Lord, ⟨p. 79⟩I believe that thou art Christ: that is, I cannot doubt, but that those that cleave to thee shall have life everlasting, teaching that these confessions imply an affiance and trust of all good through him. The Eunuch his profession was,7 I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God: but the faith of this Eunuch wa• a particular confidence of heart, whereby he embraced Christ his Saviour; and believed on him for his particular benefit and comfort. Nathanael professed of Christ,8 that he was the King of Israel, that he was the Son of God, and so much in general the Devil• believe and know:9 was Nathanaels faith nothing but a bare persuasion that Christ was the Son of God?
I count all things but losse, 1for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus my Lord, for whom I haue counted all things losse, and doe iudge them to bee dung that I might winne Christ. And might bee found in him, that is, not hauing mine owne righteousnesse, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousnesse which is of God through faith. For looke as nothing in a poore man can make him rich, further then it doth get riches into his possession; so nothing in vs sinners can make vs righteous to life, further then it doth lay hold on such a righteousnesse, which can take away sinne, and make v• righteous to the receiuing of life eternall. Fai•h is c•lled the faith of Christ, 2because Christ is he whom faith doth apprehend and receiue to righteousnesse and life, according to that of the Euangelist;3 He that belieueth on the Sonne of God hath life euerlasting. That is the principall obiect of faith, for which embraced and receiued by faith, eternall life is giuen from grace.4 But eternall life is giuen of grace for Christ embraced or rested vpon by Faith.a To belieue Christ dead and risen, as the Apostles taught him, is true beliefe: but that is not barely to belieue the historie of his Death and Resurrection, but the fruits and benefits thereof, and that wi•h the affiance. It is so to belieue the Death and Resurrrection of Christ, as thereby to looke for forgiuenesse of sinnes: which is to put our trust in the speciall mercie of God through Iesus Christ. This is plaine by the words of Martha; for when Christ asked her,6 Doest thou belieue this, that whosoeuer belieueth on me shall not die euerlastingly; She answereth, yea Lord, ⟨p. 79⟩I belieue that thou art Christ: that is, I cannot doubt, but that those that cleaue to thee shall haue life euerlasting, teaching that these confessions imply an affiance and trust of all good through him. The Eu•uch his profession was,
- 1Rom. 3.22. & 10.4. Phil. 3.8, 9.
- 2Gal. 2.16.
- 3John •.36. 1. John 3.12, 13Iohn •.36. 1. John 3.12, 13
- 4Joh. 6, 47. & 17.3.Ioh. 6, 47. & 17.3.
- aRo. 10.10, 11. Rom. •.9. 1. Cor. 15.3.
- 6John 11.26, 27.Iohn 11.26, 27.
- 7Acts 8.38.
- 8John 1.49 50.Iohn 1.49 50.
- 9Mark 5.7
