A09388:43
A declaration of the true manner of knowing Christ crucified
Cambridge: printed by John Legate, 1596Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legate, 1596
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
The fourth is, that all good works done of us, proceed from the virtue & merit of Christ crucified: he is the cause of them in us, and we are the causes of them in and by him. Without me (sayeth he) ye can do nothing: and, Every branch that beareth not fruit in me, mark well he saith, in me, he taketh away, Joh. 15. v. 2.
The fourth is, that all good workes done of vs, proceede from the vertue & merit of Crist crucified: he is the cause of them in vs, and wee are the causes of them in and by him. Without me (saieth hee) yee can doe nothing: and, Everie braunch that beareth not fruite in me, marke well he saith, in me, he taketh away, Ioh. 15. v. 2.
The fifth point is, that we owe unto Christ an endless debt. For he was crucified only as our surety and pledge, and in the spectacle of his Passion we must consider our selves as the chief debtors, and that the very discharge of our debt, that is, the sins which are inherent in us, were the proper cause of all the endless pains and torments that Christ endured, that he might set us most miserable bankrupts at liberty from hell, death, and damnation. For this his unspeakable goodness, if we do but once think of it seriously, we must needs confess that we owe our selves, our souls, and bodies, and all that we have as a debt due unto him. And so soon as any man begins to know Christ crucified, he knows his own debt, and thinks of the payment of it.
The fifth point is, that we owe unto Christ an endlesse debt. For he was crucified onely as our surety and pledge, and in the spectacle of his Passion wee must consider our selues as the chiefe debters, and that the very discharge of our debt, that is, the sinnes which are inherent in vs, were the proper cause of all the endlesse paines and torments that Christ endured, that he might set vs most miserable bankrupts at liberty from hell, death, and damnation. For this his unspeakable goodnesse, if we doe but once thinke of it seriously, wee must needes confesse that we owe our selues, our soules, and bodies, and all that wee haue as a debt due unto him. And so soone as any man beginnes to knowe Christ crucified, he knowes his owne debt, and thinkes of the paiment of it.