A08483:344
An exposition of the Symbol of the ApostlesAn exposition of the Symbole of the Apostles
An exposition of the Symbol of the Apostles, or rather of the articles of faith In which the chief points of the everlasting and free covenant between God and the faithful is briefly and plainly handled. Gathered out of the catechising sermons of Gasper Oleuvian Trevir, and now translated out of the Latin tongue into the English for the benefit of Christ his Church. By John Field.An exposition of the Symbole of the Apostles, or rather of the articles of faith In which the chiefe points of the euerlasting and free couenant betweene God and the faithfull is briefly and plainly handled. Gathered out of the catechising sermons of Gasper Oleuvian Treuir, and now translated out of the Latine tongue into the English for the benefite of Christ his Church. By Iohn Fielde.
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.
Howe we ought to make our selves ready to judgement.
Howe we ought to make our selues readie to iudgement.
WE must prepare our selves to the judgement of Christ, by faith and a good conscience: that is to say, by a faith which leaneth upon a fast and sure foundation: and by the fruits of faith which do bear witness of it, and with which it is exercised: Now the foundation of faith is not our merit, neither in whole, nor in part: but of Christ alone, who delivereth us from the wrath to come. 1. Thess. 1. For no man can lay any other foundation, then that which is laid already, to wit, Jesus Christ. 1. Cor. 3. The which also is manifestly understood by the words of the judge himself: For first he saith, Come ye blessed of my heavenly father: Now we are not blessed by, or in our selves, but by Christ, by whom we are both delivered from the curse, and also adopted to be sons of the mere good will, and free purpose of God. Galat. 3. Ephesi. 1.2. The judge further addeth, Possess for an inheritance the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. If an inheritance; then no merit: If prepared from the beginning of the world; then not gotten by us which yet were not. And these things concerning ⟨p. 229⟩the foundation whereupon our faith leaneth. Now after that I am assured through faith, that I am one of the sheep of Christ, which he hath redeemed not with gold and silver, but with his own blood: I must endeavour that I may have those same marks where with by his spirit he is wont to mark his sheep, to wit, fruits worthy repentance: which are, that I feed Christ being hungry, and give drink unto him being thirsty in his members: that I receive Christ by hospitality in strangers, &c. But the faithful rest not upon these works of thankfulness, like as also they shall say in the judgement, Lord, when saw we thee, hungry and thirsty, and gave meat & drink unto thee? But they shall only rest upon Christ, who is made unto them of God, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.