This I say lest any man should cavil that an argument taken of corruptible things, & applied to divine and spiritual matters, is nothing worth. For this argument (as I have said) is strong enough, so that we ground the same upon the ordinance of God, as we see in this argument which we have in hand. For the civil law which is an ordinance of God,1 saith that it is not lawful to break or to change the testament of a man. Yea it commandeth that the last will or testament of a man be straitly kept: For that it is one of the holiest & most laudable customs that are among men. Now therefore upon this custom of mans Testament Paul argueth after this manner: How cometh it to pass that man is obeyed and not God? Political and civill ordinances, as concerning Testaments and other things, are diligently kept. There nothing is changed, nothing is added or taken away.2 But the Testament of God is changed: that is to say, his promise concerning the spiritual Blessing, that is, concerning heavenly and everlasting things, which the whole world ought not only to receive with great zeal and affection: but also ought most religiously to reverence and honour. This persuadeth vehemently, when we so argue from the examples and laws of men. Therefore he saith: I speak after the manner of men: that is to say, I bring unto you a similitude taken of the custom and manner of men. As if he should say:3 The testaments of men and such other corruptible things are strictly executed, and that which the law commandeth is diligently observed and kept. For when a man maketh his last will, bequeathing his lands and goods to his heirs and thereupon dieth, this last will is confirmed and ratified by the death of the Testator, so that nothing may now be either added to it, or taken from it, according to all ⟨image 146⟩law & equity. Now, if a mans will be kept with so great fidelity, that nothing is added to it or taken from it after his death:4 how much more ought the last Will of God to be faithfully kept, which he promised and gave unto Abraham and his seed after him? For when Christ died, then was it confirmed in him, and after his death the writing of his last Testament was opened: that is to say, the promised Blessing of Abraham was preached among all nations dispersed throughout the whole world. This was yt last Will and Testament of God the great Testator confirmed by the death of Christ:5
This I say lest any man should cauill yt an argument taken of corruptible things, & applied to diuine and spirituall matters, is nothing worth. For this argument (as I haue sayd) is strōg enough, so that we ground the same vpon the ordinaunce of God, as we see in this argumēt which we haue in hand. For ye ciuil law which is an ordinaunce of God,1 sayth yt it is not lawfull to breake or to chaunge the testament of a man. Yea it commaundeth that the last will or testament of a man be straitly kept: For that it is one of the holiest & most laudable customes yt are among men. Now therefore vppon this custome of mans Testament Paule argueth after this maner: How cometh it to passe that mā is obeyed and not God? Political and ciuill ordinaūces, as concerning Testaments and other things, are diligently kept. There nothing is chaūged, nothing is added or taken away.2 But the Testament of God is chaunged: that is to say, his promise concerning the spiritual Blessing, that is, concerning heauenly and euerlasting things, which the whole world ought not onely to receaue with great zeale and affection: but also ought most religiously to reuerence and honour. This persuadeth vehemently, when we so argue from the examples and lawes of men. Therfore he sayth: I speake after the maner of men: that is to say, I bring vnto you a similitude taken of the custome and maner of men. As if he should say:3 The testaments of men and such other corruptible things are streitly executed, and that which the lawe commaundeth is diligently obserued and kept. For when a man maketh his last wil, bequeathing his lands and goods to his heires and therupon dieth, this last wil is confirmed and ratified by the death of the Testator, so yt nothing may nowe be either added to it, or taken from it, according to all ⟨image 146⟩law & equitie. Now, if a mās wil be kept wt so great fibelity, yt nothīg is added to it or taken from it after his death:4 how much more ought the last Wil of God to be faithfully kept, which he promised and gaue vnto Abraham and his seede after him? For when Christ died, then was it confirmed in him, and after his death the writing of his last Testament was opened: that is to say, ye promised Blessing of Abraham was preached amonge all nations dispersed throughout the whole world. This was yt last Wil and Testament of God the great Testatour confirmed by the death of Christ:5
- 1The testament of a man is not changed.The testament of a mā is not chaunged.
- 2Gods Testament is changed.Gods Testament is chaū ged.
- 3A Testament or last vvill is confirmed by the death of him that maketh it.
- 4The Testament of God ought to be kept with greater fidelity then mans Testament.The Testamēt of God ought to be kept vvith greater fidelitie then mans Testament.
- 5The Testament o• last VVill of God.The Testamēt o• last VVill of God.
