The Parable of the Wicked Mammon

This confirmeth S. Peter in the xv. chapter of the acts, saying that God tho row faith doth purify the hearts For of what nature soever the word of God is, of the same nature must the hearts be which believe thereon and cleave there unto.

This confirmth S. Peter in the xv. chapter of the actes, sayng that God tho row fayth doth purifie the hertes For of what nature soeuer the word of God is, of the same nature muste the hertes be whiche beleue theron and cleue ther vnto.

Now is the word living, pure, righteous and true, and even so maketh it the ⟨image 11⟩hearts of them that believe thereon. If it be said that Paul (when he saith Roma. the. iii. No flesh shall be or can be justified by the deeds of the law) meaneth it of the ceremonies or sacrifices, it is a lye verily. For it followeth immediately, by the law cometh the knowledge of sin.

Now is the worde lyuynge, pure, ryghteous and true, and euen so maketh it the ⟨image 11⟩hertes of them that beleue theron. If it be sayde that Paule (when he saith Roma. the. iii. No fleshe shall be or can be iustified by the dedes of the lawe) meaneth it of the ceremonies or sacrifices, it is a lye verelye. For it foloweth immediatly, by the lawe commeth the knowleg of sinne.

Now are they not the ceremonies that utter sin, but the law of commandments.¹ In the. iiii (he saith) the law causeth wrath which can not be understand of the ceremonies for they were given to reconcile the people to God again after they had sinned. If as they say the ceremonies which were given to purge sin and to reconcile, justify not, nether bless but temporally only, much more the law of commandments justifieth not. For that which proveth a man sick healeth him not, nether doth the cause of wrath bring him to favour, nether can it which damneth, save a man When the mother commandeth her child, but even to rock the cradle, it grudgeth: this commandment doth but utter the poison that lay hid, and setteth him at debate with his mother and maketh him believe she loveth him not. These commandments also (thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house, thou shalt not lust, desire, or wish after th neighbours wife servant, maid, ox or ass, or what soever pertaineth unto thy neighbour) give not me power