Theophilus. 1When God chastised David, & when he chastiseth us every day, because of our sins, he doth it not so much, for the sin which hath been committed, as for to advertise and admonish us, that we do not sin hereafter. And the pain that we bear is not for to satisfy God. For there is none other 2satisfaction then the death & passion of Jesus Christ, that he can allow to be sufficient. For if we must satisfy for our selves, we must bear & carry all the importable burden of the wrath and judgement of God. Now if we must bear them, there is none of us but should have his shoulders broken, and should be plunged & drowned in the golf & bottom of hell with the Devils. For if the Angels could 3not bear it, which of us shall be sufficient, which are but worms of the earth? And wherefore did God our good father send us Jesus Christ to help us, but to that end that he would bear it & satisfy for us, & that through his satisfaction 4we should be reconciled unto God, & delivered from his judgement? Seeing then that God our father hath the satisfaction of Jesus Christ his son, which is more then sufficient for us all, he requireth for us none other satisfaction. And if he require good works of us, he requireth 5them not for satisfaction, for they are too insufficient: But for praises and giving of thanks, and witnesses of our faith, & of the remembrance that we have of the benefits that hoe hath given unto us in his son Jesus Christ, and for to incite our brethren for to praise and magnify him. Therefore said Jesus Christ unto his Disciples. Let your light so shine before men, that ⟨p. 84⟩6they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. He said not to the end that by them, you should satisfy for your sins: or that you should merit the kingdom of heaven, and be justified. For the faithful man hath obtained already all that by the faith of Jesus Christ, which is 7our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, through whose merit Paradise is given unto us. For that cause the holy Apostle calleth the eternal life, the gift of GOD. Wherefore we may understand that we merit it not through our good deeds, but it is given 8us freely, through Gods liberality: Even as the Fathers inheritance is given unto the son:
Theophilus. 1When God chastised Dauid, & when he chastiseth vs euery day, bicause of our sinnes, he doth it not so much, for the sinne which hath bene committed, as for to aouertise and admonish vs, that we do not sinne heereafter. And the paine that we beare is not for to satisfie God. For ther is none other 2satisfaction then the death & passion of Iesus Christ, that he can allow to be sufficient. For if we must satisfie for our selues, we must beare & cary all the importable burthen of the wrath and iudgement of God. Now if we must beare them, there is none of vs but should haue his shoulders broken, and should be plunged & drowned in the goulfe & bottome of hell with the Diuels. For if the Angels could 3not beare it, which of vs shall be sufficient, which are but wormes of the earth? And wherfore did God our good father send vs Iesus Christ to helpe vs, but to that end that he would beare it & satisfie for vs, & that thorow his satisfaction 4we should be reconciled vnto God, & deliuered from his iudgement? Seing then that God our father hath the satis•action of Iesus Christ his sonne, which is more then sufficient for vs all, he requireth for vs none other satisfaction. And if hee require good woorkes of vs, he requireth 5them not for satisfaction, for they are too insufficient: But for prayses and giuing of thanckes, and wytnesses of our faith, & of the remembraunce that wee haue of the benefites that hoe hathe gyuen vnto vs in his sonne Iesus Christ, and for to incite our bretheren for to prayse and magniste hym. Therefore sayde Iesus Christe vnto hys Dysciples. Let your lyght so shine before men, that ⟨p. 84⟩6they maye sée your good woorkes and glorifie your Father which is in heauen. Hée sayde not to the ende that by them, you shoulde satisfie for your sinnes: or that you shoulde merite the kingdome of heauen, and bée iustyfied. For the faythfull man hath obteyned alreadye all that by the fayth of Iesus Christe, whiche is 7our wisedome, ryghteousnesse, sanctification, thorowe whose merite Paradise is gyuen vnto vs. For that cause the holye Apostle calleth the eternall lyfe, the gift of GOD. Wherefore wée maye vnderstande that we meryte it not thorowe our good déedes, but it is gyuen
- 1For what cause God chastiseth us in this worldFor vvhat cause God chastiseth vs in this world
- 2Satisfaction for the sinsSatisfaction sor the sinnes
- 32. Pet. 2. 4
- 4John 3. 16 Rom. 3. 24Iohn 3. 16 Rom. 3. 24
- 5What works God requireth of usand 10: what endVVhat workes God requireth of vsand 10: vvhat ende
- 6Mat. 5. 16
- 7Rom. 3. 22. Gala. 2. 16 1. Cor. 1. 30
- 8Rom. 6. 23. Merit & graceRom. 6. 23. Merite & grace
