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

M. IT seemeth unto me that thou wilt say in effect, by all this discourse which thou hast made, that what regeneration and sanctification soever there be in our flesh and nature, we are not yet for all that so pure nor so perfect, but that we must have continual recourse to the justice and sanctification of Jesus Christ, which is ours,¹ not as a quality of justice and sanctity sticking and joined to our person, but only for that that it is allowed and attributed unto us, as though it were our own proper.

M. IT séemeth vnto me that thou wilte saye in effecte, by all this discourse which thou hast made, that what regeneration and sanctification soeuer there be in our fleshe and nature, we are not yet for all that so pure nor so perfecte, but that we must haue continuall recourse to the iustice and sanctification of Iesus Christ, which is ours,¹ not as a qualitie of iustice and sanctitie sticking and ioined to our person, but only for that that it is allowed and attributed vnto vs, as though it were our owne proper.

1. 1Rom. 4. a.

P. So it is,¹ and therefore Jesus Christ hath said to the same effect, that he that was already washed, had yet need to wash his feet.

P. So it is,¹ and therefore Iesus Chryste hath saide to the same effecte, that he that was alredy washed, had yet néede to wash his feete.

1. 1John. 13. bIohn. 13. b

M. What meaneth he by that manner of speech?

M. What meaneth he by that manner of speach?

1. 1

THE FIFTH dialogue, is of the faith in God.

THE FIFTHE dialogue, is of the faith in God.

Of the true foundation of Faith, & of the difference that it maketh between the Christian religion, and all other religions.

Of the true foundation of Faith, & of the difference that it maketh betweene the Christian religion, and all other religions.

MATTHEW. Seeing it is so that man receiveth of God, all these great goodnesses, whereof thou hast made mention, by the mean of the only faith in Jesus Christ, it followeth then according to thy saying, that Jesus Christ is the true foundation of the same.¹

MATHEVV. SEing it is so that man receyueth of God, all these great goodnesses, whereof thou hast made mention, by the meane of the onely faithe in Iesus Christe, it followeth then according to thy saying, that Iesus Christ is the true foūdation of the same.¹

1. 1Rom. 5. a. 8. c Galath. 4. •

P. It is not to be doubted. For we cannot lay hold upon the mercy of God, nor be assured, that he is become our loving and merciful father, but only in Jesus Christ and by Jesus Christ his beloved son.

P. It is not to be doubted. For we cannot lay hold vpon the mercie of God, nor be assured, that he is become our louing and merciful father, but only in Iesus Christ and by Iesus Christe his beloued sonne.

M. Then if it be so, it followeth, that Man hath no true faith in GOD,¹ but that whereby man doth embrace him in Jesus Christ, when he believeth ⟨p. 140⟩in him.

M. Then if it bée so, it followeth, that Man hathe no true faythe in GOD,¹ but that whereby man dothe imbrace hym in Iesus Christ, when he beléeueth ⟨p. 140⟩in him.

1. 1John. 5. d 1. John. 2. dIohn. 5. d 1. Iohn. 2. d

P. It is very true, and therefore that faith is the very point which discerneth the christian Religion from all others, and the Christians from all other people.¹

P. It is very true, and therefore that faith is the very point whiche discerneth the christian Religion from all others, and the Christians from all other people.¹

1. 1Rom. 10. b.

M. But seeing that the faith is in the heart, whereby man believeth to justification, how can it distinguish the religions?

M. But séeing that the fayth is in the heart, wherby man beléeueth to iustification, how can it distinguishe the religions?

P. I do not here speak properly of the distinction which is made by the outward confession which men make, but of that which lieth in the true foundation and in the proper substance of the religion, which hath his only foundation in God and in his word,¹ albeit that under the name of the faith, I comprehend also the confession of the same.

P. I do not here speake proprely of the distinction whiche is made by the outwarde confession whiche men make, but of that whiche lyeth in the true foundation and in the propre substance of the religion, which hath his only foundation in God and in his word,¹ albeit that vnder the name of the faith, I comprehend also the confession of the same.

1. 1Hebr. 11. a

M. Doest thou mean that all other religions which are not grounded upon the faith in Jesus Christ, are no true religions, but false?

M. Doest thou meane that all other religions which are not grounded vppon the faithe in Iesus Christe, are no true religions, but false?

P. If religion may be religion without having a God which is honoured thereby, they may be accounted for religions, and not otherwise.

P. If religion maye be religion withoute hauing a God which is honoured therby, they may be accompted for religions, and not otherwise.

M. Why sayest thou so?

M. Why sayst thou so?

P. Forasmuch as there is no true God, but only he which hath showed himself in Jesus Christ,¹ no more can he also be known nor honoured as God, but in Jesus Christ.

P. Forsomuche as there is no true God, but only he whiche hath shewed himselfe in Iesus Christ,¹ no more can he also be knowen nor honoured as God, but in Iesus Christ.

1. 1Rom. 1. a. Hebr. 1. a Matth. 10. d