A08483:172
A08483:172
London: printed by H. Middleton for Thomas Man, 1581
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Therefore the Scripture calleth him the only begotten Son of God, that he may put a necessary difference between Christ and all the faithful. For Christ is called, and indeed is the only begotten Son of God, because he is the only everlasting son of the everlasting father, begotten of the substance of the father before all worlds: and therefore is very God in whom we ought to believe. Pro. 8. Joh. 1. Now we are called and are the sons of God, not by nature, but by adoption and grace, through which, God hath vouchsafed to adopt us to be his children, whilst he hath made us, through faith engrafted into his Son, his true and lively members, who otherwise were the men bers of Satan, and by nature the sons of wrath. Joh. 8. Ephes. 2. But in mean time, that same adoption, and name of the sons of God, ⟨p. 130⟩is not only an empty title; but when we are in truth members of the Son of God, we have by his grace a true communion and fellowship with him, in respect of which he is called the first begotten amongest many brethren. Rom. 8. And surely if the Adoption made of men be not a vain and an empty title, but such an acceptation of another mans child, to be a son, whereby in truth all the right of sons is communicated unto him, as if he were a true and natural son: certainly by that same adoption of God, whereby we are so engrafted into his Son, that we are governed & quickened by his spirit, we do not only receive the title, but the full privilege and right of the sons of God. Rom. 8. For he hath given this privilege, dignity, right, and power to all, as many as have received the Lord Jesus, that they should be made the sons of God. Joh. 1. And in the first Epistle of John the first Chapter. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, and our fellowship or communion is with the father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write I unto you, that your joy may be full. All the faithful therefore have not a mean and common covenant, but a most excellent covenant with God, whilst he will have his confederates, to be in the place of sons, making them members of his only begotten Son, from whom they are never plucked away, and regenerating or rather renewing them through his spirit;
THerefore the Scripture calleth him the only begotten sonne of God, that he may put a necessary difference betweene Christe and all the faithfull. For Christ is called, and indeede is the onely begotten sonne of God, because he is ye only euerlasting son of ye euerlasting father, begotten of the substance of ye father before al worlds: and therefore is very God in whō we ought to beleeue. Pro. 8. Ioh. 1. Now we are called and are the sonnes of God, not by nature, but by adoption and grace, through which, God hath vouchsafed to adopt vs to be his children, whilest he hath made vs, through faith engrafted into his sonne, his true and liuely members, who otherwise were the mē bers of Sathan, and by nature the sonnes of wrath. Ioh. 8. Ephes. 2. But in meane time, that same adoption, and name of the sonnes of God, ⟨p. 130⟩is not onely an emptie title; but when we are in truth members of the sonne of God, we haue by his grace a true communion and fellowship with him, in respect of which he is called the first begotten amongest many brethren. Rom. 8. And surelie if the Adoption made of men be not a vaine and an emptie title, but such an acceptation of another mans childe, to be a sonne, whereby in truth all the right of sonnes is communicated vnto him, as if he were a true and naturall sonne: certainly by that same adoption of God, whereby we are so engraffed into his sonne, that we are gouerned & quickened by his spirit, we do not onely receaue the title, but the full priuiledge and right of the sonnes of God. Rom. 8. For he hath giuen this priuiledge, dignitie, right, and power to all, as many as haue receiued the Lorde Iesus, that they should be made the sonnes of God. Ioh. 1. And in the first Epistle of Iohn the first Chapiter. That which we haue seene and hearde declare we vnto you, that ye also may haue fellowshippe with vs, and our fellowshippe or communion is with the father, and with his sonne Iesus Christ. And these things write I vnto you, that your ioye may be full. All the faithfull therefore haue not a meane and common couenant, but a most excellent couenant with God, whilest he will haue his confederates, to be in the place of sonnes, making thē members of his onely begotten Sonne, from whom they are neuer plucked away, and regenerating or rather renueing them through his spirit;
so excellent & notable a covenant, I say, in ⟨p. 131⟩every respect, that we may freely say with the Apostle to the Rom. 8. that he that hath not spared his own Son, but hath given him for us all, how can it be, that he should not together with him give us all things? Yea, but this same covenant grounded upon so excellent love of God towards us, is so sure and unmoveable, that we may farther say, with the same Apostle, I am persuaded, that neither death; nor life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
so excelent & notable a couenāt, I say, in ⟨p. 131⟩euery respect, that we may freely say with the Apostle to the Rom. 8. that he that hath not spared his owne sonne, but hath giuen him for vs all, howe can it be, that he should not together with him giue vs all thinges? Yea, but this same couenant grounded vpon so excellent loue of God towardes vs, is so sure and vnmoueable, that we may farther say, with the same Apostle, I am persuaded, that neither death; nor life, nor Angells, nor Principalities, nor powers, nor thinges present, nor thinges to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shalbe able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord.
The Lord hath said to my Lord, &c.1 And Matthew 22. verse 42.43. Acts. 2 verse 36. Therefore all the house of Israel know for a surety, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus I say, whom ye have crucified. The end and drift of these words is, that being entered into league with so faithful a Lord (who hath redeemed them from the power of darkness, neither with gold nor silver, but with his own blood, making them his own peculiar, and not only he so purchased them, but he protecteth and preserveth them being so purchased, with a special care) they might safely and with assured confidence of mind commit themselves unto him, yea; and yield up themselves to be kept for ever.
THe Lorde hath said to my Lorde, &c.1 And Matthew 22. verse 42.43. Actes. 2 verse 36. Therefore all the house of Israel knowe for a suretie, that God hath made him both Lorde and Christe, this Iesus I say, whom ye haue crucified. The end and drift of these words is, that being entred into league with so faithful a Lord (who hath redeemed them from the power of darkenesse, neither with golde nor siluer, but with his owne blood, making thē his owne peculiar, and not onely he so purchased them, but he protecteth and preserueth them being so purchased, with a speciall care) they might safely and with assured confidence of minde committe themselues vnto him, yea; and yeelde vp themselues to be kept for euer.
Again they are also admonished, that they are not in their own power, but are bought with a price that both in body and soul which are Gods, they may glorify God. 1. Corinthians 6. And to the end all that are confederate and believe, should willingly suffer them selves to be governed of such a Lord, to wit, by his word and by his spirit, who to the end he might have us under his lordship & government, was appointed of the father head of the Angels, and of all believers.
Againe they are also admonished, that they are not in their owne power, but are bought with a price that both in bodie and soule which are Gods, they may glorifie God. 1. Corinthians 6. And to the ende all that are confederate and beleeue, shoulde willingly suffer them selues to be gouerned of such a Lorde, to wit, by his worde and by his spirit, who to the ende he might haue vs vnder his lordship & gouernment, was appointed of the father head of the Angels, and of all beleuers.
Genes. 3. I will put enmity between thee and the Woman, and between thy seed, and her seed. It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. To the Gala. 4. But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, &c.
Genes. 3. I will put enimitie betweene thee and the Woman, and betweene thy seede, and her seede. It shall bruise thy heade, and thou shalt bruise his heele. To the Gala. 4. But when the fulnes of time was come, God sent forth his sonne made of a woman, &c.
Genes. 49. The tribe shall not desist from Jehudah, nor the Lawgiver from the middest of his feet: until his Son come, and obedience of peoples be made unto him: fulfilled in the 2. of Luk. ver. 1. Where the whole world is taxed, and therefore now the sceptre was departed from Judah, when the tribe of Judah was taxed of Augustus, and therefore also Mary together with Joseph. And hereunto belong those prophesies, which are to be seen in the 6. of Zechariah, ver. 11. Take therefore silver and gold, that thou mayest make crowns, and put them upon the head of Jehoschuhh the Son of Jehosadac the high Priest: Thou shalt say unto him after this manner, so saith the Lord God of hosts, in saying: Behold a man whose name is a slip, who shall bud forth out of his place, and he shall build the Temple of the Lord of hosts: He I say, shall build a temple to the Lord of hosts, and the same shall bear away comeliness, and shall sit and bear rule upon his seat, and he shall be a priest upon his seat, and the counsel of peace shall be betwixt both. And let there be crowns for every one, for Helen, for Tobiah and Jedaiah, & to Hen, the son of Zephaniah for a memorial in the temple of the Lord of hosts: and they that are far of shall come and build in the Temple of the Lord, &c. And Ezekiel the 21. So hath the Lord God of Hosts said: Remove away the Diadem and the crown: This which is ⟨p. 134⟩now, shall not be that. I will advance the humble, & will throw drown the proud, I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no more until he come whose right it is, and I will give it him. Of the time of the coming of the Messiah, note both these diligently, that he must be borne, when the sceptre should be taken away from Jehudah, as hath been showed: and yet notwithstanding whilst the Temple and Priesthood should yet stand: as Daniel saith in the 9. Chapter. After 62. weeks Christ shall be cut off, and there shall be none to help him, and the people of that Captain to come, shall scatter that city and that sanctuary.
GEnes. 49. The tribe shall not desist from Iehudah, nor the Lawgiuer from the middest of his feete: vntill his sonne come, and obedience of peoples be made vnto him: fulfilled in the 2. of Luk. ver. 1. Where the whole worlde is taxed, and therefore nowe the scepter was departed from Iuda, when the tribe of Iudah was taxed of Augustus, and therefore also Marie together with Ioseph. And herevnto belong those prophesies, which are to be seene in the 6. of Zacharie, ver. 11. Take therefore siluer and gold, that thou maist make crownes, and put them vpon the heade of Iehoschuhh the sonne of Iehosadac the high Priest: Thou shalt say vnto him after this manner, so saith the Lord God of hoastes, in saying: Beholde a man whose name is a slippe, who shall bud foorth out of his place, and hee shall builde the Temple of the Lorde of hoastes: Hee I say, shall build a temple to the Lorde of hoastes, and the same shall beare away comelines, and shall sit and beare rule vppon his seat, and hee shall be a priest vpon his seat, and the counsell of peace shall be betwixt both. And let there be crownes for euerie one, for Helē, for Tobiah and Iedaiah, & to Hen, the son of Zephaniah for a memoriall in the temple of the Lorde of hoastes: and they that are farre of shall come and builde in the Temple of the Lorde, &c. And Ezechiel the 21. So hath the Lorde God of Hoastes saide: Remoue awaie the Diademe and the crowne: This which is