To the second cavillation I answer, that Paul doth rightly allege the place out of the .15. of Genesis, applying it to faith in Christ. For with faith always must be joined a certain assurance of Gods mercy.1 Now, this assurance comprehendeth a faithful trust of remission of sins for Christs sake. For it is impossible that the conscience should look for any thing at Gods hand, except first it be assured, that God is merciful unto it for Christs sake. Therefore all the promises are to be referred to that first promise concerning Christ: The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpents head. 2So did all the Prophets both understand it and teach it. By this we see that the faith of our fathers in the old Testament, and ours now in the new is all one, although they differ as touching their outward objects. Which thing Peter witnesseth in the Acts when he saith: which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear. 3But we believe through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to be saved even as they did. And Paul saith: Our fathers did all drink of that spiritual rock that followed them, 4which rock was Christ. And Christ himself saith: Abraham rejoiced to see my day, 5and he saw it and was glad. Notwithstanding, the faith of the fathers was grounded in Christ which was to come, as ours is now in Christ which is now revealed. Abraham in his time was made righteous through faith in Christ to come, but if he lived at this day, he should be made righteous by faith in Christ now already revealed and present:6 Like as I said before of Cornelius, who at the first believed in Christ to come, but being instructed by Peter, he believed that Christ was already come. Therefore the diversity of times neither changeth faith, nor the holy Ghost, nor the gifts thereof. For there hath been, is, and ever shall be one will, one meaning and understanding concerning Christ,7 as well in the ancient fathers as in the faithful which are at this day and shall come hereafter. So we also have aswell Christ to come and believe in him, as the fathers of the old Testament had.8 For we look for him to come again in the last day with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whom now we believe to be come already for our salvation. Therefore this allegation of Paul offendeth none but those blind and ignorant cavillers.
To the seconde cauillation I answere, that Paule doth rightly alledge the place out of the .15. of Genesis, applying it to faith in Christ. For with faith alwayes must be ioyned a certaine assurance of Gods mercy.1 Now, this assurance comprehendeth a faithfull trust of remission of sinnes for Christes sake. For it is impossible that the conscience should looke for any thing at Gods hand, except first it be assured, that God is mercifull vnto it for Christes sake. Therfore all the promises are to be referred to that first promise concerning Christ: The seede of the vvoman shall bruse the serpents head. 2So did all the Prophetes both vnderstand it and teach it. By this we see that the faith of our fathers in the olde Testament, and ours nowe in the newe is all one, although they differ as touching their outward obiectes. Which thing Peter witnesseth in the Actes when he sayth: vvhich neither vve nor our fathers vvere able to beare. 3But vve beleeue through the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ to be saued euen as they did. And Paule sayth: Our fathers did all drinke of that spirituall rocke that folovved them, 4vvhich rocke vvas Christ. And Christ himselfe sayth: Abraham reioyced to see my day, 5and he savve it and vvas glad. Notwithstāding, the faith of the fathers was grounded in Christ which was to come, as ours is nowe in Christ which is now reuealed. Abraham in his time was made righteous through faith in Christ to come, but if he liued at this day, he should be made righteous by faith in Christ now already reuealed and present:6 Like as I said before of Cornelius, who at the first beleeued in Christ to come, but being instructed by Peter, he beleeued that Christ was already come. Therfore the diuersitie of times neither chaungeth faith, nor the holy Ghost, nor the gifts therof. For there hath bene, is, and euer shalbe one will, one meaning and vnderstanding concerning Christ,7 as well in the auncient fathers as in the faithfull which are at this day and shall come hereafter. So we also haue aswell Christ to come and beleeue in him, as the fathers of the olde Testament had.8
- 1That Paul doth rightly allege that place out of the .15. of Genesis, and to his purpose.That Paule doth rightly alledge that place out of the .15. of Genesis, and to his purpose.
- 2Genes. 3.15. All the promises are to be referred to the first promise.
- 3Acts. 15.10.11.Actes. 15.10.11.
- 41. Cor. 15.4.
- 5John. 8.56.Iohn. 8.56.
- 6Acts. 10.1.2.3.Actes. 10.1.2.3.
- 7The faith of the fathers & of us both one.The faith of the fathers & of vs bothe one.
- 8Coloss. 1.18. Revel. 1. 1. Thes. 4.15.16. Math. 24.Coloss. 1.18. Reuel. 1. 1. Thes. 4.15.16. Math. 24.
