A commentary or exposition upon the two Epistles general of Saint Peter, and that…A commentarie or exposition vppon the twoo Epistles generall of Sainct Peter, and that…

These words do moreover plainly show what mind the Apostle had, why that so earnestly and with such vehement ardency he began to praise the Father, and will have us also ⟨p. 8⟩to praise and bless him, for the incomparable riches which he hath given unto us, in that he hath begotten us again, and that before we could even so much as think thereof, much less prevent him, so that here is nothing remaining to preach and praise, but the only mercy of God. And therefore can we boast of no works at all, but must confess that we have all through his only mercy, whatsoever we have. Here is now no more Law, no wrath as in time past there was, when it made the Jews to flee, being stricken with terror, so that they durst not go unto the Mount. God doeth not now still urge and strike us, but handleth us as favourably as may be, fashioning and making us anew: neither giveth he us grace to do one good work or two, but frameth in us a new creature and a new life, so that we be now an other thing then we were before when we were the sons of Adam: namely we are translated from the inheritance of Adam to the inheritance of God, that he may be our Father, and we his children, and therein his heirs even of all good things that he hath. See what excellent things are in the Scripture handled concerning this matter. Now inasmuch as we are regenerate, and the sons and heirs of God, we are equal in dignity and honour with Saint Paul, Saint Peter, the holy Virgin Mary, and all the Saints. For we have the same treasure from God, and all good things as largely as they. They were no otherwise regenerate then we, wherefore they have no more then all other Christians.

These wordes doe moreouer plainly shewe what mynde the Apostle had, why that so earnestly and with such vehement ardencie he began to praise the Father, and will haue vs also ⟨p. 8⟩to praise and blesse hym, for the incomparable riches which he hath giuen vnto vs, in that he hath begotten vs againe, and that before we could euen so muche as thinke thereof, muche lesse preuent hym, so that here is nothing remaining to preach and praise, but the onely mercie of God. And therefore can we boaste of no workes at all, but must confesse that we haue all through his onely mercie, whatsoeuer wee haue. Here is now no more Lawe, no wrathe as in tyme past there was, when it made the Iewes to flée, beyng striken with terror, so that they durst not goe vnto the Mount. God doeth not now still vrge and strike vs, but handleth vs as fauourably as maie be, fashionyng and makyng vs anewe: neither giueth hee vs grace to doe one good woorke or twoo, but frameth in vs a newe creature and a newe life, so that wee bee now an other thyng then wee were before when wee were the sonnes of Adam: namely wee are translated from the inheritance of Adam to the inheritance of God, that hee maie bee our Father, and we his children, and therein his heires euen of all good thynges that he hath. See what excellent thinges are in the Scripture handled concernyng this matter. Now inasmuche as wee are regenerate, and the sonnes and heires of God, wee are equall in dignitie and honor with Sainct Paule, Sainct Peter, the holy Virgin Marie, and all the Saincts. For wee haue the same treasure from God, and all good thynges as largely as they. They were no otherwise regenerate then we, wherefore they haue no more then all other Christians.