1These are horrible thunderings against our merits & works, that we can not glory, that we have delivered our selves from sins, or that we have deserved his goodness, and the preaching of the Gospel. No, it is not so. Here is no place for boasting: but this text saith, that thou, O Lord, didst promise certain thousands of years before I was borne, that thou wouldest do it. Who did then desire him, that he would give us those things, when he had determined with him self to give them? And upon this promise the Prophets are bold and do stay them selves, for by it we attain unto true goodness, that the mouth of every one may be stopped, that he that will glory, may glory in the Lord. For thus the Lord may say: that thou livest in my kingdom, that thou enjoyest my goodness & grace, it is not to be imputed to thee, but unto me: I promised, and determined with my self to fulfil my promises, thou being ignorant thereof. And here the mouth of every one is stopped. So at this day also none of us, unto whom, thanks be to God, the Gospel hath shined, can glory that we obtained it by our own means, labour, endeavour, or good conversation. For those which were counted the best works, and the most excellent studies are disallowed and overthrown, as to celebrate Mass, to join him self to this or that hypocritical sect, which they call an order, &c. These the Gospel condemneth and rejecteth, and how can I attain to the Gospel by that which it rejecteth? Wherefore this standeth sure and certain, that all that we have, is of the mere grace and goodness of God, so that with his honour and praise we may confess, that we have deserved far otherwise, namely hell fire, if besides this he bestoweth any thing upon us, it is the gift of his grace and goodness. And this is that which Zechariah saith, that is was foretold by the Prophets, and both promised and confirmed by an oath to the fathers,2 that he would perform unto us the covenant made to Abraham. Thus he saith to Abraham: By my self have I sworn, saith the Lord, that in blessing I will bless thee. And in thy seed, &c. Which words the Prophets diligently held, marked, ⟨p. 57⟩handled, & always trusted unto them, for that he doth here solemnly swear, that he might wholly assure us, that he would pour forth his blessing upon us.
1These are horrible thundrings against our merits & workes, that we can not glory, that we haue deliuered our selues from sinnes, or that we haue deserued his goodnes, and the preaching of the Gospell. No, it is not so. Here is no place for boasting: but this text sayth, that thou, O Lorde, didst promise certaine thowsands of yeares before I was borne, that thou wouldest doe it. Who did then desire him, that he would giue vs those thinges, when he had determined with him selfe to giue them? And vpon this promise the Prophets are bold and doe stay them selues, for by it we attaine vnto true goodnes, that the mouth of euery one may be stopped, that he that wil glory, may glory in ye Lord. For thus the Lord may say: that thou liuest in my kingdom, that thou enioyest my goodnes & grace, it is not to be imputed to thee, but vnto me: I promised, and determined with my selfe to fulfill my promises, thou being ignorant thereof. And here the mouth of euery one is stopped. So at this day also none of vs, vnto whom, thankes be to God, the Gospel hath shined, can glory that we obtained it by our owne meanes, labour, endeuour, or good conuersation. For those which were counted the best workes, and the most excellent studies are disallowed and ouerthrowne, as to celebrate Masse, to ioyne him selfe to this or that hypocriticall sect, which they call an order, &c. These the Gospell condemneth and reiecteth, and how can I attaine to the Gospell by that which it reiecteth? Wherefore this standeth sure and certaine, that all that we haue, is of the meere grace and goodnes of God, so that with his honour and praise we may confesse, that we haue deserued farre otherwise, namely hell fire, if besides this he bestoweth any thing vpon vs, it is the gift of his grace and goodnes. And this is that which Zacharias sayth, that is was foretold by the Prophets, and both promised and confirmed by an oth to the fathers,2 that he would performe vnto vs the couenant made to Abraham. Thus he sayth to Abraham: By my selfe haue I sworne, sayth the Lorde, that in blessing I will blesse thee. And in thy seede, &c. Which words the Prophets diligently held, marked, ⟨p. 57⟩hādled, & alwaies trusted vnto them, for that he doth here solemnly sweare, that he might wholy assure vs, that he would poure forth his blessing vpon vs.
- 1God both promised, & fulfilled his promise, not moved through any works or merits of men, but of his mere grace and mercy.God both promised, & fulfilled his promise, not moued through any workes or merits of men, but of his meere grace and mercy.
- 2Gen. 22.16.
