The justification of man by faith onlyThe iustification of man by faith only

¶ If therefore the knowledge of god causeth, the love of god: so that without we know him, we can not have, neither him nor none of his benefits in estimation and valour of a good straw: it followeth consequently of necessity, that the lack of the knowledge of him, causeth the hatred and little good affection toward him, or any of his works. So that it followeth, that the cause that we love him not, is the cause we know him ⟨image 89⟩not. Nat as Judas knew him, which alway was present in company with him familiar with him, at board & table with him, which kissing his blessed mouth and knowing him corporally, betrayed him. Nat as the Jews knew him, which scourging and beating of his blessed body committed all kind of villainy, nailed his body to the cross, and so forth as the history maketh most godly & ghostly mention. For that corporal knowledge how little it profiteth, nay how much it hurteth (if you do rest there and go no further) the master of all heavenly knowledge Christ declareth with very plain words speaking of his own flesh and blood, saying: the flesh profiteth nothing at all: it is the spirit that giveth life and quickeneth. The lord did speak plainly, not meaning any other thing then he did with his mouth speak and declare. To mans judgement what thing could be more heavenly, more blessed (as it is in deed) than to have the body of our saviour, forty weeks within our own bodies, as the virgin Mary had? But if that she had not known him in her spirit a little more perfectly than her corporal knowledge might have given information, forsooth it should have profited her very little or nothing: she ⟨p. lxxxix⟩had ben no mete vessel, habitacle or mansion place for that sacred body. But giving credit at the last, forsaking her own reason and judgment, whereby she could not attain to the knowledge of God his will & pleasure, being of her self counselled to the contrary by natural reason, as by these words appeared. (Quoniam virum non cognosco) I never had fleshly knowledge and company with man: I know not what it meaneth: I can not tell, which way it should be so, most like a plain, simple, and virtuous maiden, feeling her spirits moved and new altered in her self (for the holy Ghost wrought marvellously in her and strongly) nature gave place, reason quaked, faith relived, so that to the words pronounced by the Angel.

¶ If therfore the knowledge of god causeth, the loue of god: so that without we knowe him, we can nat haue, neyther him nor none of his benefites in estimation and valour of a good strawe: it foloweth consequently of necessitie, that the lacke of the knowledge of him, causethe the hatred and lytle good affection towarde him, or any of his workes. So that it foloweth, that the cause that we loue him nat, is the cause we know him