For although that Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, and hath taken his body from us, yet nevertheless he is always 1among us, by the virtue of his spirit, by the which he speaketh in his Apostles, Ministers, and Evangelical Pastors, and preacheth and admonisheth always the sinners, and toucheth their heart, and conducteth and leadeth their spirits by his, for to make them enter into his Church, & for to save the elect in the same, as those which were saved in the Ark of Noah. There is nothing in this 2exposition contrary to the Analogy of the faith, and the sense of the Scriptures. But yet nevertheless it seemeth to some to be a little allegorised and violated and to stray a little too far front the Apostolical simplicity. Although that it be tolerable and Christian like. Others do understand by the spirit of Christ, his eternal virtue, by the which he hath been long time agone the Saviour and Judge of the world, as he is at this present, the Saviour by the water, as he doth now by the baptism. And therefore they do understand that he is gone by his spirit, by his divine virtue, & by his word, through out the world, as he passed through out Egypt, declaring his power among the Egyptians & saving the Israelites. Asmuch hath he 3done in the time of the flood: and doth yet at this day. For he declareth his Judgement unto the wicked, & hath drowned them in the flood, even as now he declareth it unto all, to the end that his servants may be saved in the Ark of the Church, and the others drowned by the Judgement of God. Therefore is Noah called the herald 4of righteousness for to declare, that by the same, the spirit of Jesus Christ declareth unto men the righteousness and Judgement of God, as a king declareth the war by an herald of arms, unto those which do rebel against him, and refuse peace. And the word which Saint Peter 5used when he said, y• Jesus Christ hath preached unto the spirits, doth not signify only to preach, but also to publish a commandment and an ordinance as an Herald. And ⟨image 305⟩that word herald, the which Saint Peter used speaking of Noah, is taken of the very same, of which he useth, saying that Jesus Christ hath preached unto the spirits. And as to that that Saint Peter calleth them spirits, they 6think that he did it having regard to their thoughts and affections, being possessed with evil spirits.
For although that Iesus Christ ascended into heauen, and hath taken his body from vs, yet neuerthelesse he is alwaies 1among vs, by the vertue of his spirite, by the which he speaketh in his Apostles, Ministers, and Euangelycall Pastors, and preacheth and admonisheth alwayes the sinners, and toucheth their heart, and conducteth and leadeth their spirits by his, for to make them enter into his Church, & for to saue the elect in the same, as those which were saued in the Arke of Noe. There is nothing in this 2exposition contrary to the Analogie of the faith, and the sence of the Scriptures. But yet neuerthelesse it séemeth to some to be a lyttle allegorised and vyolated and to stray a lyttle too far front the Apostolycal simplycitie. Although that it be tollerable and Christian lyke. Others doe vnderstande by the spirite of Christ, his eternall vertue, by the which he hath bene long time agone the Sauiour and Iudge of the worlde, as he is at this present, the Sauiour by the water, as he doth now by the baptisme. And therefore they doe vnderstand that he is gone by his spirit, by his diuine vertue, & by his word, thorow out the world, as he passed thorow out Aegipt, declaring his power among the Aegyptians & sauing the Israelites. Asmuch hath hée 3done in the time of the floude: and doth yet at this day. For he declareth his Iudgement vnto the wicked, & hath drowned them in the floude, euen as now he declareth it vnto all, to the ende that his seruaunts may be saued in the Arke of the Churche, and the others drowned by the Iudgement of God. Therefore is Noe called the herauld 4of righteousnesse for to declare, that by the same, the spirite of Iesus Christ declareth vnto men the righteousnes and Iudgement of God, as a king declareth the warre by an herauld of armes, vnto those which doe rebell agaynst him, and refuse peace. And the word which Saint Peter 5vsed when he sayd, y• Iesus Christ hath preached vnto the spirits, doth not signifie onely to preach, but also to publish a commaundement and an ordinaunce as an Herauld. And ⟨image 305⟩that worde herauld, the which Saint Peter vsed speaking of Noe, is taken of the very same, of which he vseth, saying that Iesus Christ hath preached vnto the spirites. And as to that that Saint Peter calleth them spirits, they
- 1Mat, 18 john, 20 1, Cor. 12.Mat, 18 •ohn, 20 1, Cor. 12.
- 2•enes. 7. […], […] 1, pet. 2. […]. 5.•enes. 7. 〈…〉, 〈…〉 1, pet. 2. 〈…〉. 5.
- 3Exo. 12. & 13 Genes.
- 4The herold of righteousness.The herold of righteousnes.
- 52. Pet. 2. […], […],2. Pet. 2. 〈…〉, 〈…〉,
- 6The spi••ts p••so•e•s,
