A Christian instruction, containing the law and the Gospel Also a summary of the…

Of two sorts of union and communion which Jesus Christ hath with man, without the which no man can obtain salvation.

Of two sortes of vnion and communion vvhiche Iesus Christe hath with man, without the which no man can obtayne saluation.

M. But is it sufficient for the salvation of man, that the son of God was made man, to bear the judgement, the wrath and curse of God in their own nature, and their own flesh?

M. BVt is it sufficient for the saluation of man, that the sonne of God was made man, to beare the iudgemente, the wrathe and cursse of God in their owne nature, and their owne fleshe?

Pe. If that were sufficient, all should be saved indifferently, aswell the reprobates as the elect, & the unbelievers as the faithful, as we have already touched it heretofore.

Pe. If that were sufficient, al shold be saued indifferently, aswel the reprobats as the elect, & the vnbeleuers as ye faithful, as we haue alredie touched it heretofore.

P. Thou mayst judge by that which we have already said of the communion that we have with him thorough faith, and of the justification by the same.

P. Thou mayst iudge by yt which we haue alredy sayd of the comuniō that we haue with him thorough faith, and of the iustification by the same.

M. I do very well remember, that thou hast already somewhat touched it: but I would very gladly that thou didst expound the same unto me somewhat more largely.

M. I do very wel remember, that thou hast already somwhat touched it: but I woulde very gladly yt thou didst expoūd the same vnto me somwhat more largely.

P. The communication of the which we have now ⟨p. 175⟩spoken, is natural, and therefore it is common to all men with Jesus Christ, in so much as they be of the same nature, & of the same flesh that he hath taken for us.

P. The communication of the which we haue nowe ⟨p. 175⟩spoken, is natural, and therfore it is common to al men with Iesus Chryst, in so much as they be of the same nature, & of the same flesh that he hathe taken for vs.

Ma. And the other?

Pe. It is spiritual, and therefore it is more special: for it is not generally common to all, but it is only proper to the elect and faithful.

Pe. It is spirituall, and therefore it is more speciall: for it is not generally common to al, but it is only propre to the elect and faithfull.

Of the spiritual marriage between Jesus Christ and his Church, and first of the union of nature that is required in this marriage.

Of the spirituall marriage betweene Iesus Chryste and his Churche, and firste of the vnion of nature that is required in this mariage.

M. Expound to me what this union and communion containeth more than the first?

M. EXpound to me what this vnion and cōmunion conteineth more thā the first?

P. I will declare unto thee by similitude of marriage,¹ whereof S. Paul hath used to this purpose, in the epist. to the Ephesians.

P. I wil declare vnto thée by similitude of mariage,¹ wherof S. Paul hath vsed to this purpose, in ye epist. to the Ephesiās.

1. 1Ephe. 5. e.

M. Expound unto me then the similitude.

M. Expounde vnto me then ye similitude.

P. Nature doth show us & also teach us, the alliance & communion of marriage could not be between man & woman,¹ if they were not both living creatures of one very kind, and of one very flesh & nature.

P. Nature doth shew vs & also teach vs, ye aliāce & cōmuniō of mariage coulde not be betwene mā & womā,¹ if they were not both liuīg creatures of one very kind, and of one very flesh & nature.

1. 1Genesis. 1. •.

M. Albeit that the brute beasts have ben created of the same very matter, whereof man and woman are created as concerning the body: yet for all that, I know well that there ⟨p. 176⟩is great difference touching the kinds, and that man and woman have a far other union and communion of flesh and nature together, than with other living creatures which we do call beasts.

M. Albeit that the brute beasts haue ben created of the same very matter, whereof man and woman ar created as concerning the bodie: yet for al that, I know wel that there ⟨p. 176⟩is greate difference touching the kindes, and that man and woman haue a farre other vnion and communion of fleshe and nature together, thā wc other liuing creatures whiche we do call beastes.

P. And therefore after that god had created Adam, and that his pleasure was to give him an aid in marriage,¹ he would create this aid, which is the woman, of the very flesh and substance of Adam himself, to the end that they should be one very flesh and one very body: as in deed Adam did right well know when he saw the woman immediately after that she was so created. Wherefore he said: This here is flesh of my flesh, and bone of my bones: and therefore man shall leave father and mother, and shall stick to his wife: If there be great difference between the nature of the man and of the woman, and that of other living creatures concerning the very body, the difference is yet much more great concerning the soul, forasmuch as the other living creatures were not created to the image and likeliness of God,² as man was, wherefore they have not a soul of a heavenly and divine nature ⟨p. 177⟩as he hath.

P. And therfore after that god had created Adam, and that his pleasure was to giue him an ayde in mariage,¹ he woulde create thys ayde, whiche is the woman, of the verye flesh and substance of Adam himselfe, to the ende that they shuld be one very flesh and one verie body: as in déede Adam did right wel know when he saw the womā immediately after that she was so created. Wherfore he sayd: This here is flesh of my fleshe, and bone of my bones: and therfore man shall leaue father and mother, and shall sticke to his wyfe: If ther be great difference betwene the nature of the man and of the woman, and that of other liuing creatures cōcerning the very bodie, the difference is yet much more greate concerning the soule, forsomuche as the other lyuing creatures were not created to the image and lykelynesse of God,² as man was, wherefore they haue not a soule of a heauenly and diuine nature ⟨p. 177⟩as he hath.

1. 1