Theophilus. Although that those words are not recited in the scripture, after that manner as thou dost receipt them, yet nevertheless. I am content to allow it to be true. I do not deny, but that God is as just as he is merciful. 1For otherwise he could not be God. But we ought to consider, by what means he doth exercise his justice & mercy towards us. There is no doubt, but ye our sins do deserve 2great punishment. And therefore hath he given unto us Jesus Christ his son, & hath delivered him to death for us, that our misdeeds should be punished in him, & that he do satisfy for us to his sovereign justice, for to obtain of him grace & mercy in his name. Thou seest then that there is none 3evil which is not unpunished, for to satisfy the righteousness & justice of god: but there is difference in the manner of punishing ⟨image 229⟩For•• he that hath b•ne the evil believeth in Jesus Christ, and hath full hope and trust that through his death & passion he hath obtained of God pardon and remission of his sins, through that saith, he is the true member of Jesus 4Christ, and adopted for the son of God. If he be a true member of Jesus Christ, and a true child of God, he & his sins are punished in Jesus Christ, who for that cense, hath borne the judgement and tursse of God, for all the elect. But if the sinner be an Infidel, and which hath no part with Jesus Christ, the wrath of God falleth 5upon him and he cannot escape the Judgement of God, but that his sin be punished in himself, in hell fire. And even as our evil deeds are punished in Jesus Christ, so are our good deeds rewarded in him, and by him allowed 6of the celestial Father, which crowneth his good works in us. For nothing pleaseth him but Jesus Christ his well beloved son, in whom he delighteth, and no works 7can be found agreeable, but his. For there is no goodness but in him. Wherefore if we will have any good thing in us, we must seek • borrow it of him. And if we will that our works be pleasing unto God, it is necessary that Jesus Christ do them in us through his holy spirit: or otherwise, the heavenly father cannot allow nor receive them for good, nor yet give unto them reward.
Theophilus. Although that those wordes are not reryted in the scripture, after that manner as thou doost receyte them, yet neuertheles. I am content to allow it to be true. I doe not deny, but that God is as iust as he is merciful. 1For otherwise he could not be God. But we ought to consider, by what meanes he doth exercise his iustice & mercie towards vs. There is no doubt, but ye our sinnes do deserue 2great punishmēt. And therfore hath he giuē vnto vs Iesus Christ his sonne, & hath deliuered him to death for vs, that our misdéeds should be punished in him, & that he do satisfie for vs to his souereigne iustice, for to obteine of him grace & mercy in his name. Thou seest thē yt there is none 3euil which is not vnpunished, for to satisfie ye rightousnes & iustice of god: but ther is differēce in ye māner of punishing ⟨image 229⟩For•• he that hath b•ne the euil beleeueth in Iesus Christ, and hath full hope and trust that thorow his death & passion he hath obtayned of God pardon and remission of his sinnes, thorow that saith, he is the true member of Iesus 4Christ, and adopted for the sonne of God. If hee bee a true member of Iesus Christ, and a true childe of God, hée & his sinnes are punished in Iesus Christe, who for that cense, hath borne the iudgement and tursse of God, for all the elect. But if the sinner bee an Infidell, and whiche hath no parte with Iesus Christ, the wrath of God falleth 5vppon him and he cannot escape the Iudgement of God, but that his sinne be punished in himselfe, in hell fire. And euen as our euill deedes are punished in Iesus Christ, so are our good déedes rewarded in him, and by him allowed 6of the celestiall Father, which crowneth his good works in vs. For nothing pleaseth him but Iesus Christ his welbeloued sonne, in whom he deliteth, and no workes 7can be found agréeable, but his. For there is no goodnesse but in him. Wherefore if we will haue any good thing in vs, we must séeke borrow it of him. And if we will that our works be pleasing vnto God, it is necessary that Iesus Christ do them in vs thorow his holy spirite: or otherwise, the heauenly father cannot allow nor receiue them for good, nor yet giue vnto them reward.
- 1The Justice and mercy of God.The Iustice and mercy of God.
- 2Esa. 9. b. 6 John. 3. d. 34. Rom. 3. 24. Gala. 3. d. 2•.Esa. 9. b. 6 Iohn. 3. d. 34. Rom. 3. 24. Gala. 3. d. 2•.
- 3Punishment for sins.Punishment for sinnes.
- 4Rom. 12. 1. Cor. 12 John. 15. Gala. 3. ••Rom. 12. 1. Cor. 12 Iohn. 15. Gala. 3. ••
- 5John. 3. d. 36Iohn. 3. d. 36
- 6The reward of good deeds.The revvard of good deades.
- 7Mat. 3. •••
