A10213:967
The treasure of trueth touching the ground work of man his salvation, and chiefest…The treasure of trueth touching the grounde worke of man his saluation, and chiefest…
The treasure of trueth touching the ground work of man his salvation, and chiefest points of Christian religion: with a brief sum of the comfortable doctrine of God his providence, comprised in .38. short aphorisms. Written in Latin by Theodore Beza, and newly turned into English by John Stockwood. Whereunto are added, these godly treatises. One of the learned and godly Father. Master I. Fox. In the which the chiefest points of the doctrine of God his election, are so plainly set forth, as the very simplest may easily understand it, and reap great profit thereby. The other of Master Anthony Gylbie, wherein the doctrine of God his election and reprobation, is both godly and learnedly handled. Seen and allowed, according to the order appointed.The treasure of trueth touching the grounde worke of man his saluation, and chiefest pointes of Christian religion: with a briefe summe of the comfortable doctrine of God his prouidence, comprised in .38. short aphorismes. VVritten in Latin by Theodore Beza, and nevvly turned into English by Iohn Stockvvood. VVhereunto are added, these godly treatises. One of the learned and godlie Father. Maister I. Foxe. In the which the chiefest poyntes of the doctrine of God his election, are so plainely set foorth, as the verie simplest may easily vnderstand it, and reape great profite thereby. The other of Maister Anthonie Gylbie, wherein the doctrine of God his election and reprobation, is both godly and learnedlie handeled. Seene and alovved, according to the order appoynted.
London: printed by J. Charlewood for Thomas Woodcocke, 1576
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Fourthly, The majesty of God can be subject to no sin, because it can be under no law. And that only is worthily called sin which is done against ⟨image 126⟩a Law, therefore no work that God doth ought to be accounted evil, either that he is the occasion of any evil, which only is the mind, sense, spirit, and power of the Law, without whom no law of it self is good. For every good law is the mind, will, and commandment of God, and what so ever law is not the mind, will, and commandment of God (as was the laws of the Scribes and Pharisees, and of the cursed Papists) the same be wicked: who of necessity were set up the body of Antichrist, to utter their unrighteousness, that Christ the sun of righteousness, the head of his body, in his manifold mercies, more plainly might appear, and shine with more glory. Again to define sin to be the affection, motion, or operation of any reasonable creature, against the law of God: his majesty must needs be secluded and excused, who is the law maker, the creator, no creature, having no evil motion, nor led with any affection, which might make his work evil. Like as the creature is for the most ⟨image 126⟩part blame worthy because even when it doth the best of all. It is subject to some affection, either self-love, or hatred of some other, yea the Lord God may use any of his creatures in any work, without the blame of any evil, as well as the Smith may make his coals to flame, or to quench them, either the same piece of iron, sometimes his hammer, sometime his tongs or stithy.
Fourthly, The maiestie of God can bée subiect to no sinne, bicause it can be vnder no lawe. And that onely is worthely called sinne whiche is done agaynst ⟨image 126⟩a Lawe, therefore no worke that God dothe oughte to be accompted euyll, eyther that he is the occasion of any euyll, whiche onely is the minde, sence, spirite, and power of the Lawe, wythout whome no lawe of it selfe is good. For euerie good lawe is the minde, wyll, and commaundement of God, and what so euer lawe is not the mynde, wyll, and commaundement of God (as was the lawes of the Scribes and Phariseys, and of the cursed Papists) the same be wicked: who of necessitie were set vp the body of Antichrist, to vtter theyr vnrighteousnesse, that Christe the sonne of righteousnesse, the head of his body, in his manyfolde mercies, more playnely might appeare, and shine with more glory. Agayne to define sinne to be the affection, motion, or operation of any reasonable creature, agaynst the lawe of God: his maiestie must needes be secluded and excused, who is the lawe maker, the creator, no creature, hauing no euill motion, nor ledde with any affection, whiche mighte make his worke euyll. Like as the creature is for the most