A14136:90
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.
The thread are spiritual and look Moses in the open face & are (as Paul saith the second to the Romans) a law unto them selves and have the law written in their hearts by the spirit of God. Thes need nether of king nor officers to drive them / nether that any man proffer them any reward for to keep the law. For they do it naturally.
The thred are spirituall and loke Moyses in the open face & are (as Paul saith the seconde to the Romains) a lawe vnto them selves and have the lawe writtē in their hertes by the spirite of God. Thes neade nether of kinge ner officers to drive thē / nether that any mā profer thē any rewarde for to kepe the lawe. For they do it naturally.
The first work for fear of the sword only. The second for reward. The thread work for love freely. They look on the exceeding mercy / love and kinds which God hath ⟨p. xxxv⟩showed them in Christ and therefore love again and work freely. Heaven they take of the free gift of God through Christs deservings / and hope without all manner doubting that God according to his promise / 1will in this world also defend them and do all thing for them of his goodness and for Christs sake and not for any goodness that is in them. They consent unto the law that it is holy and just and that all men ought to do what soever God commandeth for no other cause / 2but because God commandeth it. And their great sorrow is / because that there is no strength in their members to do that which their heart lusteth to do and is a thirst to do.
The first worke for feare of the swerde only. The seconde for rewarde. The thred worke for love frely. They loke on the excedī ge mercy / love and kindes which God hath ⟨p. xxxv⟩