A14133:252
An exposition upon the v.vi.vii. chapters of Matthew which three chapters are the key…An exposycyon vpon the v.vi.vii. chapters of Mathewe which thre chapters are the keye…
An exposition upon the v.vi.vii. chapters of Matthew which three chapters are the key and the door of the scripture, and the restoring again of Moses law corrupt by the scribes and pharisees. And the exposition is the restoring again of Christs law corrupt by the Papists. Item before the book, thou hast a prologue very necessary, containing the whole sum of the covenant made between God and us, upon which we be baptised to keep it. And after thou haste a table that leadeth the by the notes in the margents, unto all that is entreated of in the book.An exposycyon vpon the v.vi.vii. chapters of Mathewe which thre chapters are the keye and the dore of the scrypture, and the restoring agayne of Moses lawe corrupt by ye scrybes and pharyses. And the exposycyon is the restorynge agayne of Chrystes lawe corrupte by the Papystes. Item before the boke, thou hast a prologe very necessary, conteynynge the whole sum of the couenaunt made betwene God and vs, vpon whiche we be baptysed to kepe it. And after thou haste a table that ledeth the by the notes in the margentes, vnto al that is intreated of in the booke.
London? : R. Redman, 1536?
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.
Furthermore though forgiveness of thy since be annexed to thy work and forgiving thy brother / yet doeth not (as I said) thy works justify the before God. But the faith in Christs blood and in the promises made us for his sake, doth bring righteousness into the heart. And the righteousness of the heart by faith, is felt and known by the work. As Peter in the first of his second epistle commandeth to do good works / for to make our vocation and election sure / that we might feel our faith, and be certified that it is right. Eor except a man be proved and tried, it can not be known / nether to him self or other men / that he is righteous and in the true faith. Take an ensample lest thou be beguiled with sophistry Christ sayeth Mat. 13. The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman taketh and hideth in three pecks of meal till all be leavened or sour.1 Leaven is some tim taken in an evil sense for the doctrine of the pharisees which corrupted the sweetness of the word of God with the leaven of their glosses, and some time in a good sense, for the kingdom of heaven that is to say the gospel and glad tidings of Christ. For as leaven altereth the nature of dowe and maketh it through sour / even so the gospel turneth ⟨image 86⟩a man into a new life and altereth him a little and a little / 2first the hart and then the members. Faith in Christ first certifieth the conscience of the forgiveness of since, and delivereth us from fear of everlasting damnation / and then bringeth the love of God and of his law into the heart, which love is the righteousness of the heart. Love bringeth good works in to the members / which works are the outward righteousness and the righteousness of the members.3 To hate the will of God is the unrighteousness of the heart and causeth evil works which are the unrighteousness of the members. As when I hated my brother / my tongue spake evil, my hands smote and so forth To love is the righteousness of the heart / and causeth good works which are the righteousness of the members. As if I love my brother and he have need of me and be in poverty, love will make me put mine hand in to my purse or almorye and to give him some what to refresh him. &c. That the love of God and of his commandments is the righteousness of the heart, doeth no man doubt save he that is heartless.