Secondly for discerning and discussing the difference between the law and the Gospel, how these two parts are to be separated, and distincted a sunder as repugnant and contrary, and yet notwithstanding how they both stand together in Scripture and doctrine, and yet in doctrine no repugnance. The knowledge whereof how requisite it is for all Christians to learn the miserable lack thereof will soon declare. For where these two be not rightly parted, but confounded, what can follow there but confusion of conscience, either leading to despair, or else to blind security, without any order in doctrine, or true comfort of salvation. As by examples of time is soon seen, namely if we look into the later times of the Romish Church, where for want of right distinguishing between these two, great errors have risen, and no great ⟨image 3⟩marvel. For where the Gospel is taken for the law, and the law for the Gospel, and Christ received but only for a law giver: and where things go by works and law of deserving, what hope or assurance of salvation can be there, considering our works in their best kind to be so imperfect and unprofitable? And what shall be said then of our naughty works? but especially▪ what shall be said then to the mourning & lamenting sinner, who feeleth no good thing dwelling in him, but all wickedness? shall he then despair, or how else will ye comfort him? For if Christ in his principal office be but a teacher of the law and of works, and that be the chiefest thing to be required in a Christian, to work salvation by the law of working: where is then grace, mercy, promise, faith justifying, peace & rest of conscience, redemption from malediction of the law, if we be under the law still? briefly, where is the new covenant of God made by his Son, if the old covenant made by Moses do yet remain? if it do not remain, then must there needs be a difference between the law & the gospel: between the old Testament & the new: between the law of works & the law of faith: between Moses & Christ, between the master & the servant: between Hagar and Sarah, and their two children. Now what difference this is, thou shalt not need, Christian reader, by me to be instructed, having here the book of Martin Luther to read and peruse.
Secondly for discerning and discussing the difference betwene the law and the Gospell, how these two partes are to be separated, and distincted a sonder as repugnant and contrary, and yet notwithstanding howe they both stand togither in Scripture and doctrine, and yet in doctrine no repugnance. The knowledge whereof how requisite it is for all Christians to learne the miserable lack thereof will soone declare. For where these two be not rightly parted, but confounded, what can followe there but confusion of conscience, either leading to despaire, or else to blind securitie, without any order in doctrine, or true comfort of saluation. As by examples of time is soone seene, namely if we loke into the later times of the Romish Church, where for want of right distinguishing betwene these two, great errors haue risen, and no great ⟨image 3⟩maruel. For where the Gospell is taken for the lawe, and the lawe for the Gospel, and Christ receaued but onely for a law giuer: and where things go by workes and lawe of deseruing, what hope or assurance of saluation can be there, considering our workes in their best kind to be so imperfect and vnprofitable? And what shall be said then of our naughtie workes? but especially▪ what shall be said then to the mourning & lamenting sinner, who feleth no good thing dwelling in him, but all wickednes? shall he then despaire, or how else will ye comfort him? For if Christ in his principall office be but a teacher of the lawe and of workes, and that be the chiefest thing to be required in a Christian, to worke saluation by the law of working: where is then grace, mercie, promise, faith iustifying, peace & rest of conscience, redemption from malediction of the law, if we be vnder the law still? briefly, where is the new couenāt of God made by his sonne, if the olde couenant made by Moses doe yet remaine? if it do not remaine, then must there needs be a differēce betwene the law & the gospel: betwene the old Testamēt & the new: betwene the law of works & the law of faith: betwene Moses & Christ, betwene the master & the seruaunt: betwene Agar and Sara, and their two children. Now what difference this is, thou shalt not neede, Christian reader, by me to be instructed, hauing here the boke of Martin Luther to reade and peruse.
