A15857:230
H. Zanchius his confession of Christian religion Which now at length being 70. years…H. Zanchius his confession of Christian religion Which novve at length being 70. yeares…
H. Zanchius his confession of Christian religion Which now at length being 70. years of age, he caused to be published in the name of himself & his family. Englished in sense agreeable, and in words as answerable to his own latin copy, as in so grave a mans work is requisite: for the profit of all the unlearneder sort, of English christians, that desire to know his judgement in matters of faith.H. Zanchius his confession of Christian religion Which novve at length being 70. yeares of age, he caused to bee published in the name of himselfe & his family. Englished in sense agreeable, and in words as answerable to his ovvne latine copie, as in so graue a mans worke is requisite: for the profite of all the vnlearneder sort, of English christians, that desire to know his iudgement in matters of faith.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1599Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1599
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Confession › Chapter 10 › Aphorism 8: VIII. A threefold profit by the law of God.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
VIII. A threefold profit by the law of God.
First by the perfect declaration of the will of God by this law, men might and may better understand, what was pleasing unto god: what was good, and what ill, what was to be done, and what to be avoided: then by the only relics of the law of nature remaining in mans mind: and therefore all cloak of ignorance being clean taken away, the Jews were made more inexcusable then other nations, if they kept not the law: which thing falls out greatly to the glory of God: sith men do thereby understand, that his judgements towards us are very just. Furthermore, by the curses which are added against the transgressors, and the blessings for the observers, men were ⟨p. 51⟩restrained by fear of those as it were with a bridle, from committing sin, and by hope of these as it were with a spur, were stirred up to keep the law, if not wholly and perfectly, yet in part, and for the external observances: and so might be the better held within their duties: which how profitable it is not only to a whole common wealth, but to every particular man, so bearing himself, none can be ignorant. Last of all, by that, that men saw by daily experience, how they continually sinned against this so perfect a law; and perceived, that they were not able to observe it, as it ought to be, and so that they were daily more and more in danger of Gods wrath, & guilty of eternal death: It came to pass that distrusting themselves, & their own strength, they grew to have a greater and earnester desire of the promised Saviour and redeemer. And therefore how much the more they knew their sins by the law, and their weakness, & more sensibly felt the wrath of God, so much the more greedily did they hunger and thirst after righteousness, and were disposed and prepared to take hold on Christ by faith: so that very true were both those sayings of the Apostle: by the law is the knowledge of sin,