An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

not that either Christ Jesus had then the full glory, as he was man (for as yet he had not overcome the death) neither y• his elect at any time in this life can attain to the fruition of the same, but that the one was as assured in gods immutable counsel as was the other. For as the head should overcome the bitter death, and so triumph over satan the author thereof, so should his members in the time appointed, as he doth further express, saying: I will (Father) that where, that I am, there also be those which thou hast given unto me, that they may see my glory. The second is that so stre•t and •ere is the conjunction and union betwixt Christ Jesus and his members, that they must be one, and never can be separated. For so did Christ pray, Saying: That they all may be one, as we are one. I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one. Let the conjunction be diligently marked: for much it serveth to our com•ort. As the Godhead is inseparably joined with the humanity in Christ Jesus our Lord, so the one that is the God head, neither could nor can leave the humanity at any time. how bitter that ever the storms appeared: so can not Christ Jesus leave his dear spouse the Church, neither yet any true member of the same. For that he includeth under the general word (all) for any accident, how horrible that ever it be, that came to pass in their life. And albeit that this appear strange, and also a doctrine that may seem to give liberty to sin, yet may not the children of God be defrauded of their food, because that dogs will abuse the same. But of this we shall (God willing) after speak. The third thing to be noted, is, that the love of God towards his elect given to Christ is immutable. For Christ putteth it in equal balance with the love by the which his Father loved him. Not that I would any man should so understand me, as that I placed any man in equal dignity and glory with Christ Jesus touching his office. No that must be reserved wholly and only to him self: that he is the • lie ⟨p. 38⟩beloved, in whom all the rest are beloved: that he is the head, that only giveth life to the body: and that he is the sovereign prince, before whom all knee shall bow.

not that either Christ Iesus had then the full glorie, as he was man (for as yet he had not ouercome the death) neither y his elect at any tyme in this life can atteine to the fruition of the same, but that the one was as assured in gods immutable counsell as was the other. For as the head shoulde ouercome the bitter death, and so triumphe ouer sathan the authour thereof, so should his membres in the tyme appoīted, as he doth further expresse, sayinge: I wil (Father) that where, that I am, there also be those which thou hast giuen vnto me, that they may se my glorie. The second is that so stret and ere is the coniunction and vnion betweixt Christ Iesus and his membres, that they must be one, and neuer can be seperated. For so did Christe pray, Saing: That they all may be one, as we are one. I in them ād thow in me, that they may be made perfecte in one. Let the coniunction be diligently marked: for much it serueth to our comort. As the Godhead is inseparably ioined with the humanitie in Christ Iesus our Lord, so the one that is the God head, neither could nor can leaue the humanitie at any tyme. how bitter that euer the stormes appeared: so cā not Christ Iesus leaue his dear spouse the Church, neither yet any trew membre of the same. For that he includeth vnder the generall word (all) for any accidēt, how horrible that euer it be, that came to passe in their life. And albeit that this appere strā ge, and also a doctrine that may seme to giue libertie to sinne, yet may not the children of God be defrauded of their fode, becaus that dogges will abuse the same. But of this we shall (God willing) after speak. The third thing to be noted, is, that the loue of God towardes his elect giuen to Christe is immutable. For Christ putteth it in equall ballance with the loue by the which his Father loued him. Not that I wold any man should so vnderstand me, as that I placed any man in equall dignitie and glorie with Christe Iesus touchīg his office. No that must be reserued wholly and onely to him self: that he is the lie