The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

And such favour did he purchase by his death of his heavenly father for us: that for the merit thereof (if we be true Christians in deed, and not in word only) we be now fully in Gods grace again, and clearly discharged from our sin. No tongue surely is able to express the worthiness of this so precious a death. For in this standeth the continual pardon of our daily offences, in this resteth our justification, in this we be allowed, in this is purchased the everlasting health of all our souls. Yea, there is ¹none other thing that can be named under heaven to save our souls, but this only work of Christs precious offering of his body upon the altar of the cross. Certes there can be no work of any mortal man (be he never so holy) that shall be coupled in merits with Christs most holy act. For no doubt, all our thoughts and deeds were of no value, if they were not allowed in the merits of Christs death. All our righteousness is far unperfect, if it be compared with Christs righteousness. For in his acts and deeds, there was no spot of sin, or of any unperfectness. And ⟨p. 361⟩for this cause they were the more able to be the true amends of our unrighteousness, where our ²acts and deeds be full of imperfection, and infirmities, & therefore nothing worthy of them selves to stir God to any favour, much less to challenge the glory that is due to Christs act & merit. For not to us (sayeth David) not to us, but ³to thy name give the glory, O Lord. Let us therefore (good friends) with all reverence glorify his name, let us magnify and praise him for ever. For he hath dealt with us according to his great mercy, by himself hath he purchased our redemption. He thought it not enough to spare him ⁴self, and to send his Angel to do this deed, but he would do it him self, that he might do it the better, and make it the more perfect redemption. He was nothing moved with the intolerable pains that he suffered in the whole course of his long passion, to repent him thus to do good to his enemies: but he opened his heart for us, and bestowed him self wholly for the ransoming of us. Let us therefore now open our hearts again to him, and study in our lives to be thankful to such a Lord, and evermore to be mindful of so great a benefit, yea let us take up our cross with Christ and follow him.