Christ is our peace, which hath made of both one (he speaketh of the Jews and Gentiles) and hath broken down the wall that was a stop between us, and hath also put away through his flesh the cause of ⟨p. 397⟩hatred even the law of commandments contained in the law written. &c. Here have we the cause why god was angry with us. Verily because we fulfilled not the law. Now is Christ come, & hath put away the cause of this anger and hatred, that is to say, he hath fulfilled the law for us, and reconciled us unto God, so that now the father for his sake hateth us no more, but loveth us, is no more angry, but well pleased with us, & accepteth his fulfilling of the law, as our own fulfilling.1 Also to the Colossians, Christ saith he, hath put out the hand writing that was against us contained in the law written, and that hath he taken out of the way, and hath fastened it to his cross, and hath spoiled rule and power, and hath made a show of them openly, and hath triumphed over them in his own ⟨p. 398⟩person. If Christ hanging on the Cross, hath by the virtue of his passion & death put out the hand writing that was against us contained in the law than is our bond made frustrate and void, & we set at liberty, forasmuch as Christ by his blood hath both paid our debt unto God the father, and also subdued and brought under foot all our enemies.2 The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, hath these words. The commandment that went afore, is disannulled, because of weakness and unprofitableness. For the law brought nothing to perfection, but was an introduction to a better hope, by the which we draw nigh unto God. Here are we taught also, that forasmuch as by the law no man can be made perfect (for who among us fulfilleth the law?) we have our perfection in Christ• ⟨p. 399⟩•y whom for our sake the law is fulfilled, and remission of since and everlasting life is freely given unto us. This is the hope, profit and liberty, which so many as believe, receive in Christ. Let therefore the terrors and curse of the law never trouble you, though Satan do never so much lay it unto your charge: but remember what the Apostle sayeth: ye are no more under the law,3 but under grace. Again. Now are we delivered from the law,4 and dead unto it, whereunto we were in bondage, that we should serve in a new conversation of the spirit, and not in old conversation of the letter.
Christe is oure peace, whiche hath made of both one (he speaketh of ye Iewes and Gentiles) and hath broken downe the wal that was a stoppe betwene vs, and hath also put away through his flesh the cause of ⟨p. 397⟩hatred euen the law of commaū dementes contained in the lawe writtē. &c. Here haue we the cause why god was angry with vs. Uerely because we fulfilled not the law. Now is Christ come, & hath put away the cause of this anger and hatred, that is to saye, he hath fulfilled the law for vs, and recō ciled vs vnto God, so that nowe the father for his sake hateth vs no more, but loueth vs, is no more angry, but wel pleased with vs, & accepteth his fulfilling of the law, as our own fulfulling.1 Also to the Collossians, Christ saith he, hathe put out the hand wryting yt was against vs contained in the lawe written, and that hath he taken out of the waye, and hath fastned it to his crosse, and hathe spoyled rule and power, and hath made a shew of them opēly, and hath triumphed ouer them in his owne ⟨p. 398⟩person. If Christ hanging on the Crosse, hath by the vertue of his passion & death put out the hande wryghting that was against vs contained in the lawe than is our bond made frustrate and voyde, & we set at libertie, forasmuche as Christe by his bloude hathe bothe paid our debt vnto God ye father, and also subdued and brought vnder fote al our ennemies.2 The authour of the Epistle to ye Hebrues, hath these wordes. The cōmaundement that went afore, is disanulled, because of weakenes and vnprofitablenesse. For the lawe brought nothynge to perfection, but was an introduction to a better hope, by the whiche we drawenie vnto God. Here ar we taught also, that forasmuche as by ye lawe no man can be made perfect (for who amōg vs fulfilleth the law?) we haue our perfection in Christ• ⟨p. 399⟩•y whome for our sake the law is fulfilled, and remission of synnes and euerlasting lyfe is frely geuē vnto vs. This is the hope, profit and libertie, whiche so many as beleue, receiue in Christ. Let therfore the terrours and cursse of the lawe neuer trouble you, though Sathan do neuer so muche lay it vnto your charge: but remember what the Apostle saieth: ye are no more vnder the lawe,3
- 1Collo. ii.
- 2Hebr. vii.
- 3Rom. vi.
- 4Roma. vii.
