Religion comprehendeth .ij. things 1the fear of God, and the trust of mercy promised for Christ whereof holly letters doth copiously teach, and Philosophy nothing, but reason among all persons doth judge, there is a wise god, a good, a righteous maker and conservator of things, and that pains be to be feared, whereby flagitious and sinful deeds be punished from above. This knowledge of the Law bringeth forth and engendereth fear, and therefore fear is called a Religious thing. Forasmuch therefore I do intend speedfully to speak of those virtues, whereof the Philosophers chiefly do dispute and which ⟨image 8⟩we use toward men, I must therefore begin at the Queen of 2virtues whose name is Justice, of whom truly Aristotle writeth on this manner. Neither Hesperus nor Lucifer is more beautiful then Justice, for she governeth all other virtues, and she is the chief bond of Civil society and generally she signifieth obedience toward all laws, and containeth in her all virtue, and when holy scripture speaketh of Justice, obedience toward all laws ought to be understand. Secondly Justice signifieth only that virtue which in Judgements & contracts giveth to every man his own Thirdly Justice in Pauls disputations signifieth imputation of Justice, or a divine acceptation, as when it is said, it is imputed to him for Justice. But of this signification ⟨image 8⟩the Philosophers do speak nothing, because divers significations contain diverse kinds, and that there be no more significations then those three, there division therefore in the beginning is to be declared.
RElygion comprehendyth .ij. thynges 1the fere of God, and the truste of mercy promysed for Christe wherof holly letters dothe copynsly teache, and Philosophy nothynge, but reason amonge all persons doth iuge, there is a wyse god, a good, a rightwise maker and conseruator of thynges, and that paynes be to be fearyd, wherby flagicious and synfull dedes be ponysshed frō aboue. This knowledge of the Lawe bryngeth forth and engenderyth feare, and therfore feare is called a Relygious thynge. Forasmoche therfore I do entende spedefully to speake ef those vertues, wherof the Philosophers chifely do dispute and whiche ⟨image 8⟩we vse towarde men, I muste therfore begynne at the Quene of 2vertues whose name is Iustyce, of whom truely Aristotile wryterh on this maner. Nother Hesperus nor Lucifier is more beautefull then Iustyce, for she gouernyth al other vertues, and she is the chefe bonde of Ciuille society and generally she signyfieth obedyence towarde all lawes, and conteyneth in her all vertue, and when holye csripture speaketh of Iustyce, obedyence towarde all lawes oughte to be vnderstande. Secondely Iustyce signyfieth onely that vertue whiche in Iudgementes & cōtractes geuyth to euery mā his owne Thyrdly Iustyce in Paules disputacions signyfieth imputacion of Iustice, or a diuine acceptaciō, as whan it is sayde, it is imputed to hym for Iustyce. But of this signyficacion ⟨image 8⟩the Philosophers doo speake nothynge, because dyuers signyficacions conteyne dyuerse kyndes, and that there be no more signyficacions thenne those thre, there diuysion therfore in the begynnynge is to be declared.
- 1Religion.Relygion.
- 2Justice.Iustice.
