even so, when we are united to Christ, & are (as it were) laid in the beams of this blessed sun of righteousness, virtue is ⟨p. 488⟩derived thence, which warmeth our benumbed hearts dead in sin, and reviveth us to newness of life: whereby we begin to affect and like good things, and put in practise all the duties of religion. Fifthly, hence we have the protection of Gods angels; for they always wait and attend on Christ, and because we are made one with him, they attend upon us also. Lastly by reason of this union with Christ, every believer cometh to have interest & to recover his title in the creatures of God, and to have the holy and lawful use of them all. For we must consider, that although Adam created in the image of God, was made lord over all things in heaven and earth; yet when he fell by eating the forbidden fruit; he, and in him all mankind lost the title and use of them all. Now therefore that a man may recover his interest, he must first of all be united and made one with Christ: and then by Christ, who is Lord and King over all, shall he recover that title in the creatures of God, which he had by creation; and be made lord over them again. But some will say, if this be so, then a Christian man may have and enjoy all creatures at his pleasure; and therefore the goods of other men. Ans. The reason is not good, for in this life we have no more but aright unto the creature, and bright in it, that is, actual possession is reserved for the life to come. Therefore we must content our selves with our allowed portions given unto us by god, by his grace using them in holy manner, expecting by hope the full fruition of all things till after this life. Again, if all title to the creatures be recovered by Christ, it may be demanded, whether infidels have any interest to their goods or no? Ans. Infidels before men are right lords of all their lands and possessions which they have obtained by lawful means; and in the courts of men they are not to be deprived of them: but before God they are but usurpers, because they hold them not in capite, that is, in Christ: neither have they any holy and right use of them, for to the unclean, all things are unclean. And they must first of all become members of Christ before they can hold and enioy• them aright, and use them with good conscience.
euen so, whē we are vnited to Christ, & are (as it were) laid in the beames of this blessed sonne of righteousnes, vertue is ⟨p. 488⟩deriued thence, which warmeth our benummed hearts dead in sinne, and reuiueth vs to newnes of life: whereby we begin to affect and like good things, and put in practise all the duties of religion. Fifthly, hence we haue the protection of Gods angels; for they alwaies waite and attend on Christ, and because we are made one with him, they attend vpon vs also. Lastly by reason of this vnion with Christ, euery beleeuer commeth to haue interest & to recouer his title in the creatures of God, and to haue the holy and lawfull vse of them all. For we must consider, that although Adam created in the image of God, was made lord ouer all things in heauen and earth; yet when hee fel by eating the forbidden fruite; he, and in him all mankind lost the title and vse of them all. Nowe therefore that a man may recouer his interest, he must first of all be vnited and made one with Christ: and then by Christ, who is Lord and King ouer all, shall hee recouer that title in the creatures of God, which hee had by creation; and be made lord ouer them againe. But some will say, if this bee so, then a Christian man may haue and enioy all creatures at his pleasure; and therefore the goods of other men. Ans. The reason is not good, for in this life we haue no more but aright vnto the creature, and bright in it, that is, actuall possession is reserued for the life to come. Therefore we must content our selues with our allowed portions giuen vnto vs by god, by his grace vsing them in holy manner, expecting by hope the full fruition of all things till after this life. Againe, if all title to the creatures be rocouered by Christ, it may bee demanded, whether infidels haue any interest to their goods or no? Ans. Infidels before men are right lords of all their landes and possessions which they haue obtained by lawefull meanes; and in the courts of men they are not to be depriued of them: but before God they are but vsurpers, because they holde them not in capite, that is, in Christ: neither haue they any holy and right vse of them, for to the vncleane, all things are vncleane. And they must first of all become members of Christ before they can hold and enioy• them aright, and vse them with good conscience.
- aJus ad rem.Ius ad rem.
- bJus in re.Ius in re.
