The words of the Evangelist are plainly wrested. For he affirmeth not, that every man is illuminated to salvation, nether yet that Christ is offered (as ye would shift) to every man. But speaking of the excellency of Christ Jesus, in whom was life, and by whom all things were created, he saith: this was the true light, which doth illuminate all men, that come into this world. In which words he speaketh nothing of mans redemption nether yet of any light, which man receiveth necessary for the same: But only of that light which was given to man in his creation, a part whereof (how small so ever it be) doth yet remain in man▪ and that not by his own power, but by the free gift of God, in whom we live, are moved, and have our being. And that the Evange list speaketh nothing of the light of our redemption, is evident by his own words. For, before, and after he doth witness, that the light did shine in darkness, but darkness did not apprehend it, that is receive, & acknowledge it: That he came amongest his own, but his own did not receive him, that such as did receive him were nether borne of blood, of the will of the flesh, nether yet of the will of man, but of God. By which words it is manifest, that the Evangelist most evidently declareth, that the light of salvation is not common unto all, but that it is proper to those only, that are borne of God. He doth further teach, that all reason, and natural understanding ⟨p. 388⟩which man hath by his first birth, is so choked, so blinded, and extinguished, that man must needs be borne again, before he can see the kingdom of God, that Christ Jesus must needs illuminate those, that be borne blind, or else (without remedy) they shall perish in their blindness. And thus I say the one text your master doth falsely, and the other most violently wrest. But now to your words. God is slow, (say you) to wrath, and ready to forgive. He will be entreated of all,1 so that he biddeth all men every where to repent, and offereth faith unto all men. 2I will not question with you at this time, why in this description of your true God, ye make no mention of the Son, which is the eternal word, and wisdom, of the eternal father, nether of the holy Ghost, who proceeding from the father, is equal with the eternal Sonne.
The wordes of the Euangelist are plainely wrested. For he affirmeth not, that euery man is illuminated to saluation, nether yet that Christe is offered (as ye wold shift) to euery man. But speaking of the excellēcie of Christ Iesus, in whom was life, and by whom all thinges were created, he saith: this was the true light, which doth illuminate all men, that come into this world. In which wordes he speaketh nothing of mannes redemption nether yet of any light, which man receaueth necessarie for the same: But onely of that light which was gi•ē to man in his creatiō, a part whereof (how small so euer it be) doth yet remaine in man▪ and that not by his own power, but by the free gift of God, in whom we liue, are moued, and haue our being. And that the Euange list speaketh nothing of the light of our redemption, is euident by his owne wordes. For, before, and after he doth witnes, that the light did shine in darckenes, but darckenes did not apprehēd it, that is receaue, & aknowledge it: That he came amongest his owne, but his owne did not receaue him, that such as did receaue him were nether borne of blood, of the will of the flesh, nether yet of the will of man, but of God. By which wordes it is manifest, that the Euangelist most euidently declareth, that the light of saluation is not cōmon vnto all, but yt it is propre to those onely, yt are borne of God. He doth further teach, that all reason, and naturall vnderstanding ⟨p. 388⟩which man hath by his first birth, is so choked, so blinded, and extinguished, that man must nedes be borne againe, before he can see the kingdome of God, that Christ Iesus must nedes illuminate those, that be borne blinde, orels (without remedy) they shall perish in their blindnes. And thus I say the one text your master doth falsely, and the other most violētly wrest. But now to yor wordes. God is slowe, (say you) to wrath, and ready to forgiue. He will be intreated of all,1 so that he biddeth all mē euerie where to repent, and offereth faith vnto all men. 2I will not question with you at this time, why in this description of your true God, ye make no mention of the Sonne, which is the eternall word, and wisedom, of the eternall father, nether of the holye Gost, who proceding from the father, is equall with the eternall Sonne.
- 1Answer
- 2To ye 2
