That we receive Christ together with all his gifts and graces,1 this must be attributed, as we freely confess, to the free working of the Holy spirit alone, which is the essential power of the father and the Son:2 for he alone maketh us meet to understand these things which are of God, yea and that in such sort, that we do not only confess all Gods promises generally to be true,3 but also every one of us in our hearts do certainly persuade our selves that these promises do belong unto us,4 and therefore may with boldness cry Abba, O father. This same most excellent work of the Holy ghost we call faith,5 which is the free gift of GOD, allotted specially to the elect, ⟨p. 131⟩and is as in respect of us, the only fit and meet instrument to perceive Christ by, and to receive all his graces. Therefore we teach with Paul,6 that we are justified and saved by faith alone: we meaning thereby nothing else but this, that by that only instrument of faith, we lay hold upon all things necessary to salvation, to wit, Christ with all his gifts. Furthermore, the Holy ghost, to the end that this faith may be begotten in us by his secret power, as also for the fostering and strengthening thereof, after that it is wrought, doth use likewise outward means (because we consist of a rude and gross nature) to wit, the word written and preached,7 which he by his power maketh effectual in us, that so he may work in us these things of which we have before spoken.8 And this word sometime is simple, and by it self or alone, as you would say, not accompanied with other, of which sort is the daily preaching of the same word. And sometimes again it hath visible signs joined to it, together with certain ceremonies: which signs the Greeks call mysteries, ⟨p. 132⟩and the Latins sacraments: for God verily regarding our weakness, went to assure us of that his goodwill towards us, not by the ears only, but also by other senses, and so more and more to establish and seal unto us our conjunction with Christ his Son. These things being put down, and these ground-works and foundations laid, it shall be an easy matter to gather our mind touching the questions following, which respect or concern the matter of the sacrament.
THat we receiue Christ togither with all his gifts and graces,1 this must be attributed, as we freelie confesse, to the free working of the Holie spirit alone, which is the essentiall power of the father and the sonne:2 for he alone maketh vs meet to vnderstand these things which are of God, yea and that in such sort, that we doo not onelie confesse all Gods promises generallie to be true,3 but also euerie one of vs in our hearts doo certeinelie persuade our selues that these promises doo belong vnto vs,4 and therefore may with boldnesse crie Abba, O father. This same most excellent worke of the Holie ghost we call faith,5 which is the free gift of GOD, alotted speciallie to the elect, ⟨p. 131⟩and is as in respect of vs, the onelie fit and meet instrument to perceiue Christ by, and to receiue all his graces. Therefore we teach with Paule,6 that we are iustified and saued by faith alone: we meaning thereby nothing else but this, that by that onelie instrument of faith, wee lay holde vpon all thinges necessarie to saluation, to wit, Christ with all his giftes. Furthermore, the Holie ghost, to the end that this faith may be begotten in vs by his secret power, as also for the fostering and strengthening thereof, after that it is wrought, dooth vse likewise outward meanes (because wee consist of a rude and grosse nature) to wit, the worde written and preached,7 which hee by his power maketh effectuall in vs, that so he may worke in vs these thinges of which wee haue before spoken.8 And this word sometime is simple, and by it selfe or alone, as you would saye, not accompanied with other, of whiche sort is the dailie preaching of the same woorde. And sometimes againe it hath visible signes ioyned to it, togither with certeine ceremonies: which signes the Greekes call mysteries, ⟨p. 132⟩
- 1What the Holy ghost is.What the Holie ghost is.
- 21. Cor. 2.13.14.
- 3What faith is.
- 4Rom. 8.15. Galath. 4.6.
- 5Ephes. 2.8.
- 6Rom. 3.28.
- 7The outward means of faith.The outward meanes of faith.
- 8The word considered two ways, to wit, as it is preached without the sacraments, and as the sacraments are annexed thereto.The word considred two waies, to wit, as it is preached without the sacraments, and as the sacraments are annexed thereto.
