And now of that which is already said, it appeareth, that we do not confound the Law with the Gospel. For albeit we confess that God is author aswell of the Law as of the gospel, and that of it self, it is as well holy, just, 1and good, as the gospel: 2yet we hold that there is no small difference betwixt them both: not only because the Law was delivered to the Israelites alone, and the gospel pertaineth to all people and nations: and also, not only because that was for a time, and to continue but till christ, and the gospel is everlasting: and also not only because, that was delivered by Moses, and declared by the Prophets, and the ⟨p. 96⟩gospel was brought by christ, and published to the whole world by the Apostles: But indeed and most especially for these causes: First, because the matter of the law, is only commandments with irrevocable curses thereunto joined, if they be broken never so little: It hath also promises, not only of earthly but also of heavenly blessings: but all of them with the condition of perfect obedience, and none merely free. But the gospel is properly a happy message, setting before us gratis christ the redeemer, forgiving sins and saving us: yea and requiring nothing at our hands for the obtaining of life everlasting, but a true faith in christ, which faith cannot be without true repentance, nor without a care to do the will of God, that is, to live so berly, justly, and godly, as is above declared. Moreover because the law did not perform, that which it required; nether had it power whereby to save, & therefore was unsufficient, and a killing letter, the minister of wrath and death, more provoking then taking away sin: But the Gospel, what it requireth, the same it performeth, and therefore, whatsoever it offereth, the same also it truly imparteth unto us: For as much as the holy ghost is by it powerful in the elect, at the preaching of the Gospel: stirring up in them that true faith, whereby they apprehend christ offered, and with him eternal life: For faith is by hearing of the Gospel: 3but obedience is not by hearing of the Law: because the holy ⟨p. 97⟩spirit giveth no man strength to the hearing of the Law, by which he might observe the same, as he stirreth up faith in the elect, to the hearing of the gospel.
And nowe of that which is alreadie saide, it appeareth, that we do not confound the Law with the Gospell. For albeit wee confesse that God is author aswel of the Law as of the gospell, and that of it selfe, it is as well holie, iust, 1and good, as the gospell: 2yet we hold that ther is no smale difference betwixt them both: not onely because the Lawe was deliuered to the Israelites alone, and the gospell pertaineth to al people and nations: and also, not onely because that was for a time, and to continue but till christ, and the gospell is euerlasting: and also not onely because, that was deliuered by Moses, and declared by the Prophets, and the ⟨p. 96⟩gospell was brought by christ, and published to the whole world by the Apostles: But indeed and most especially for these causes: First, because the matter of the law, is onely commandementes with irreuocable curses thereunto ioyned, if they bee broken neuer so little: It hath also promises, not onely of earthlie but also of heauenly blessings: but al of them with the condition of perfect obedience, and none merely free. But the gospell is properly a happie message, setting before vs gratis christ the redeemer, forgiuing sinnes and sauing vs: yea and requiring nothing at our handes for the obtaining of life euerlasting, but a true faith in christ, which faith cannot bee without true repentance, nor without a care to doe the will of God, that is, to liue so berly, iustly, and godly, as is aboue declared. Moreouer because the law did not performe, that which it required; nether had it power whereby to saue, & therefore was vnsufficient, and a killing letter, the minister of wrath and death, more prouoking then taking away sin: But the Gospell, what it requireth, the same it performeth, and therefore, whatsoeuer it offereth, the same also it truely imparteth vnto vs: For as much as the holy ghost is by it powerful in the elect, at the preaching of the Gospell: stirring vp in them that true faith, wherby they apprehend christ offred, and with him eternall life: For faith is by hearing of the Gospell: 3but obedience is not by hearing of the Lawe: because the holie ⟨p. 97⟩spirite giueth no man strength to the hearing of the Lawe, by which hee might obserue the same, as he stirreth vp faith in the elect, to the hearing of the gospell.
- 1Exo. 20
- 2Rom. 7.12
- 3Rom. 10.17
