A Treatise Touching the Liberty of a Christian

For whose heart hearing these things will not melt for very joy,¹ and wax ravished in love of Christ, having received so great a consolation? to the which love he can never possibly attain by any laws or works at all: what is he that can hurt such a heart, or may appal the same with fear? If conscience of sin do rush upon him, or horror of death amaze him, lo, it is ready to trust in the Lord, nor is afraid for any such evil noise, nor is disquieted, until it do despise the enemies, for it believeth that Christs righteousness is become his ⟨p. 38⟩own righteousness, and that his sin is now no longer his own, but Christs sin. But it behoveth that all sin be swallowed up at the very sight of Christ, through the faith of Christ, as hath been declared before, and learn now with the Apostle, to tread upon, and triumph over sin and death, and to say, Death, where is thy sting? Death, where is thy victory? the sting of Death is sin, but the power of sin is the Law. God be thanked, who hath given us victory through Jesus our Lord, for death is swallowed up through the conquest, not of Christ only, but our own also, because it cometh to pass by our Faith, that the conquest is made ours, and that in the same we do overcome.

For whose heart hearing these things will not melt for very ioy,¹ and waxe rauished in loue of Christ, hauing receiued so great a consolation? to the which loue hee can neuer possibly attaine by any lawes or workes at all: what is hee that can hurt such a heart, or may apall the same with feare? If conscience of sinne doe rush vpon him, or horror of death amaze him, loe, it is ready to trust in the Lord, nor is afraid for any such euill noise, nor is disquieted, vntill it do despise the enemies, for it beléeueth that Christs righteousnesse is become his ⟨p. 38⟩owne righteousnesse, and that his sinne is now no longer his owne, but Christs sinne. But it behoueth that all sinne bée swallowed vp at the very sight of Christ, through the faith of Christ, as hath béene declared before, and learne now with the Apostle, to treade vpon, and triumph ouer sinne and death, and to say, Death, where is thy sting? Death, where is thy victorie? the sting of Death is sinne, but the power of sinne is the Law. God be thanked, who hath giuen vs victory through Iesus our Lord, for death is swallowed vp through the conquest, not of Christ onely, but our owne also, because it commeth to passe by our Faith, that the conquest is made ours, and that in the same wee doe ouercome.