A14136:111
The Obedience of a Christian Man
The obedie[n]ce of a Christen man and how Christ[n] rulers ought to govern, where in also (if thou mark diligently) thou shalt find eyes to perceive the crafty conveyance of all jugglers.The obedie[n]ce of a Christen man and how Christe[n] rulers ought to governe, where in also (if thou marke diligently) thou shalt fynde eyes to perceave the crafty conveyance of all iugglers.
At Marlborow in the lande of Hesse i.e. Antwerp : the second day of October. Anno. M.CCCCC.xxviii, by me Hans luft i.e. J. Hoochstraten, 1528At Marlborow in the lande of Hesse i.e. Antwerp : the seconde daye of October. Anno. M.CCCCC.xxviii, by me Hans luft i.e. J. Hoochstraten, 1528
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.
Thou wilt say haply / if love fulfil the law / then it Justifieth. I say that that where with a man fulfilleth the law / declareth him justified but that which giveth him where with to fulfil the law / justifieth him. By justifying understand the forgiveness of sins and the favour of God.1 Now sayeth the text Roma. x. the end of the law or the cause wherefore the law was made is Christ to justify all that believe. That is / the law is given to utter sin / to kill the consciences / to dan our deeds / to bring to repentance & to drive unto Christ:2 in whom god hath promised his favour and forgiveness of sin unto all that repent and consent to the law that it is good.3 If thou believe the promises then doth Gods truth justify the / that is forgiveth the and receiveth the to favour for Christs sake. In a surety where of and to certify thine heart / he sealeth the with the sprite. Ephe. j. and .iiij. And .ij. Corinth. v. saith Paul. Which gave us his sprite in ⟨image 44⟩earnest. How the sprite is given us through Christ / read the eighth chapter of the pistle to the Romans and Gala. iij. and .ij. Corinth. iij. Nevertheless the sprite 4and his fruits where with the heart is purified / as faith / hope / love / patience / long suffering and obedience / could never be seen without outward experience. For if thou were not brought sometime in to cumbrance / whence God only could deliver the / thou shouldest never see thy faith ye except thou foughtest sometime against desperation / hell / death sin and powers of this world for thy faiths sake thou shouldest never know true faith from a dream. Except thy brother now and then offended the / thou couldest not know whether thy love were Godly. For a turk is not anger / till he be hurt & offended but if thou love him that doeth the evil / then is thy love of God / like wise if thy rulers were all way kind / thou shouldest not know whether thine obedience were pure or no but and if thou canst patiently obey evil rulers in all thing that is not to the dishonour of God and when thou hurtest not thy neighbours / then art thou sure / that Gods spirit worketh in thee and that thy faith is no dream nor any false imagination.