It is good to know these things, not only to the end that every one of us may have a sure & a certain remedy in the time of tentation, whereby we may eschew that venom of desperation, wherewith Satan thinketh to poison us: but also to the end we may be able to resist the furious Sectaries & Schismatics of our time. For the Anabaptists count nothing more glorious in their whole doctrine, then that they so severely urge the example of Christ and the cross: especially seeing the sentences are manifest wherein Christ commendeth the cross to his disciples. We must learn therefore how we may withstand this Satan, transforming himself into the likeness of an Angel. Which we shall do if we make a difference between Christ set forth unto us sometimes as a gift, & sometimes as an example. The preaching of him both ways hath his convenient time, which if it be not observed, the preaching of salvation may so be turned into poison.1 Christ therefore must be set forth unto those which are already cast down and bruised through the heavy burden and weight of their sins, as a Saviour and a gift, and not as an example or a lawgiver. But to those that are secure and obstinate, he must be set forth as an example. Also the hard sentences of the Scripture, and the horrible examples of the wrath of God must be laid before them: as of the drowning of the whole world, of the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, and such other like, that they may ⟨p. 236⟩repent. Let every Christian therefore when he is terrified and afflicted, learn to cast away the false persuasion which he hath conceived of Christ, and let him say: O cursed Satan, why doest thou now dispute with me of Doing and Working, seeing I am terrified & afflicted for my sins already? Nay rather, seeing I now labour and am heavy laden,2 I will not hearken to thee which art an accuser and a destroyer, but to Christ the Saviour of mankind, which sayeth that he came into the world to save sinners, to comfort such as are in terror, anguish and desperation, and to preach deliverance to the captives. &c. This is the true Christ, and there is none other but he. I can seek examples of holy life in Abraham, Isaiah, John Baptist, Paul and other Saints. But they can not forgive my sins, they can not deliver me from the power of the Devil and from death, they cannot save me and give me everlasting life.
It is good to know these things, not onely to the ende that euery one of vs may haue a sure & a certaine remedie in the time of tentation, wherby we may eschue that venome of desperation, wherwith Sathā thinketh to poyson vs: but also to the ende we may be able to resist the furious Sectaries & Schismatikes of our time. For the Anabaptistes count nothing more glorious in their whole doctrine, then that they so seuerely vrge the example of Christ and the crosse: especially seeing ye sentences are manifest wherin Christ commēdeth the crosse to his disciples. We must learne therfore how we may withstand this Sathan, trāsforming himself into the likenes of an Angell. Which we shall doe if we make a difference betwene Christ set forth vnto vs sometimes as a gift, & sometimes as an example. The preaching of him both wayes hath his conuenient time, which if it be not obserued, the preaching of saluation may so be turned into poyson.1 Christe therefore must be set forth vnto those which are already cast downe and brused through the heauie burden and weight of their sinnes, as a Sauiour and a gift, and not as an example or a lawgeuer. But to those that are secure and obstinate, he must be set forth as an example. Also the hard sentences of the Scripture, and the horrible examples of the wrath of God must be laid before them: as of the drowning of the whole world, of the destruction of Sodome & Gomorrha, and such other like, that they may ⟨p. 236⟩repent. Let euery Christian therfore whē he is terrified and afflicted, learne to cast away ye false perswasiō which he hath cōceiued of Christ, and let him say: O cursed Sathan, why doest thou now dispute wt me of Doing and Working, seeing I am terrified & afflicted for my sinnes already? Nay rather, seeing I now labour and am heauie loden,2 I will not hearken to thee which art an accuser and a destroyer, but to Christe the Sauiour of mankinde, which sayeth that he came into the world to saue sinners, to comfort such as are in terrour, anguish and desperation, and to preach deliuerance to the captiues. &c. This is the true Christe, and there is none other but he. I can seeke examples of holy life in Abraham, Esay, Iohn Baptist, Paule and other Sainctes. But they can not forgeue my sinnes, they can not deliuer me from the power of the Deuill and from death, they cannot saue me and geue me euerlasting life.
- 1To whom Christ must be set out as a gift, and to whom as an example.To vvhom Christ must be set out as a gift, and to vvhom as an example.
- 2Math. 11.28.
