The use of this doctrine is very profitable. First it overthroweth the fond doctrine of the church of Rome, which teacheth that Christ by his death did merit our justification, and that we being once justified do further merit salvation, and purchase for our selves a place in heaven. But this is as it were to make a partition between Christ and us in the work of our redemption, whereas in truth not only the beginning and continuance of our salvation, but also the accomplishment thereof in our vocation, justification, sanctification, glorification, is wholly and only to be ascribed to the mere merit of Christ: and therefore having redeemed us on earth, he also ascends to prepare a place in heaven for us. Secondly, this serveth to condemn the fearful, lamentable, and desperate security of these our days. Great is the love of Christ in that he was content to suffer the pangs of hell to bring us out of hell: and withal to go to heaven to prepare a place for us there: and yet who is it that careth for this place, or maketh any account thereof? who forsaketh this world, & seeks unto Christ for it? And further, least any man should say, alas, I know not the way: therefore Christ before he ascended, made a new & living way with his own blood, as the Apostle speaketh. And to take away all excuses from men, he hath set marks and bounds in this way, and hath placed guides in it, namely his ministers, to show all the passengers a straight and ready course into the kingdom of heaven. And though Christ have done all this for us, yet the blindness and security of men is such, that none almost walketh in this way, nor careth to come into this mansion place; but in stead of this, they walk in by ways, according to the lusts of their own flesh. When they are commanded to go eastward to Jerusalem, they turn westward an other way: when they are commanded to go on forward to heaven, they turn again backward, and go straight to hell. Men run on all the days of their lives in the broad way that leadeth to destruction, and never so much as once make inquiry for a resting place in heaven; but when the hour of death cometh, then they call for the guide; whereas all their lives before, they have run out of the way many thousand miles: but then, alas, it is too late, unless it be the unspeakable mercy of God.
The vse of this doctrine is very profitable. First it ouerthroweth the fond doctrine of the church of Rome, which teacheth that Christ by his death did merit our iustification, and that we beeing once iustified doe further merit saluation, and purchase for our selues a place in heauen. But this is as it were to make a partition betweene Christ and vs in the worke of our redemption, whereas in truth not onely the beginning and continuance of our saluation, but also the accomplishment thereof in our vocation, iustification, sanctification, glorification, is wholly and onely to be ascribed to the meere merit of Christ: and therefore hauing redeemed vs on earth, he also ascends to prepare a place in heauen for vs. Secondly, this serueth to condemne the fearefull, lamentable, and desperate securitie of these our daies. Great is the loue of Christ in that he was content to suffer the pangs of hell to bring vs out of hell: and withall to goe to heauen to prepare a place for vs there: and yet who is it that careth for this place, or maketh any account therof? who forsaketh this world, & seekes vnto Christ for it? And further, least any mā should say, alas, I know not the way: therfore Christ before he ascended, made a new & liuing way with his own blood, as the Apostle speaketh. And to take away all excuses frō men, he hath set markes and bounds in this way, and hath placed guides in it, namely his ministers, to shew all the passengers a straight and readie course into the kingdome of heauen. And though Christ haue done all this for vs, yet the blindnes and securitie of men is such, that none almost walketh in this way, nor careth to come into this mansion place; but in stead of this, they walke in by waies, according to the lusts of their owne flesh. When they are commanded to goe eastward to Ierusalem, they turne westward an other way: when they are commanded to goe on forward to heauen, they turne againe backeward, and goe straight to hell. Men runne on all the daies of their liues in the broad way that leadeth to destruction, and neuer so much as once make inquirie for a resting place in heauen; but when the houre of death commeth, then they call for the guide; whereas all their liues before, they haue runne out of the way many thousand miles: but then, alas, it is too late, vnlesse it be the vnspeakable mercie of God.
