thou were not true, or not able to do 1these things, or else becamest not my father in respect of thine own goodness in christ only, but also in respect of my worthiness and deserts. And that I should not waver or doubt 2of this that thou art my dear father & I thy child for ever through Jesus Christ, it is required in the first commandment, which saith I am the lord thy god, thou shalt have none other gods but me: again, thy son doth here command me to call thee by the name of father: moreover in the first article of my belief I profess the same in saying, I believe in god the father almighty: besides this their are many other things to confirm me herein, as the creation and government of the world generally, and of every creature particularly, for all is made and kept for man and so for me, to serve me for my commodity, necessity & admonition. Again the creation of me, in that thou hast made me after thy Image, having a reasonable soul, body, shape &c. where thou mightest ⟨image 9⟩have made mea toad, a Serpent, a swine, deformed frantic &c. moreover thy wonderful conservation, nourishing and keeping of me hitherto in my infancy, childhood, youth &c. Al these I say, should confirm my faith of thy fatherly love. But of all things the opening of thy self by thy word & promise of grace, made after mans fall, first to Adam, then to Abraham Isaac, Jacob, and so to other, being published by the prophets from time to time, and last of all accomplished by thy dear son Jesus Christ, in 3whom thy promises are yea & Amen: The opening of thy self thus, I say, in and by Christ, is the most chief & sure certificate, that thou art my father for his sake, & I thy dear child, although of my self I am most unworthy. For thou according to thy promises, hast not spared thy dear 4son Jesus Christ, but given him to the death of the cross for my sins. Thou wouldest he should be made flesh of our flesh, and blood of our blood in the womb of the virgin Mary, by the operation of the holy Spirit ⟨image 10⟩5that we by the working of the same spirit, through the merits of his flesh & blood, might be made flesh of his flesh and blood of his blood, that is, as he hath the substance of our flesh & blood:
yu were not true, or not able to doe 1these thynges, or els becamest not my father in respecte of thine owne goodnes ī christ only, but also in respect of my worthynes and deserts. And yt I should not wauer or doubte 2of thys that thou arte my deare father & I thy childe for euer through Iesus Christe, it is required in the first commaundement, which sayth I am ye lord thy god, thou shalt haue none other goddes but me: agayne, thy sonne doth here commaunde me to call thee by the name of father: moreouer in the firste article of my belefe I professe the same in saying, I beleue in god the father almighty: besydes this their are manye other things to confirme me herin, as the creation and gouernemente of the world generally, and of euery creature particularly, for al is made and kept for man and so for me, to serue me for my commoditye, necessitye & admonition. Againe the creation of me, in that thou hast made me after thy Image, hauīg a reasōable soule, body, shape &c. where thou mightest ⟨image 9⟩haue made mea tode, a Serpent, a swine, deformed frātike &c. moreouer thy wōderful cōseruacion, norishing and keping of me hitherto in my infancie, childhode, youth &c. Al these I say, should cōfirme my faith of thy fatherlie loue. But of all things the opening of thy selfe by thy worde & promise of grace, made after mans fall, first to Adam, then to Abraham Isaac, Iacob, and so to other, beyng published by the prophetes frō time to time, and last of all accomplished by thy deare sonne Iesus Christ, in 3whom thy promises are yea & Amē: The opening of thy self thus, I say, in and by Christ, is the most chiefe & sure certificat, that thou arte my father for his sake, & I thy deare child, although of my selfe I am most vnworthie. For thou accordinge to thy promises, hast not spared thy deare 4sonne Iesus Christ, but giuen hym to ye death of ye crosse for my sinnes. Thou woldest he shuld be made flesh of our fleshe, and bloude of our bloud in the wombe of the virgine Marie, by the operation of the holy Spirite ⟨image 10⟩5that we by the working of the same spirite, throughe the merites of hys fleshe & bloud, might be made fleshe of his fleshe and bloud of his bloud, that is, as he hath the substaunce of our fleshe & bloud:
- 1The great test dishonour to god is to doubtThe great test dishonor to god is to doubt
- 2Causes to confirm our faith that god is our father.Causes to confirme our faythe that god is our father.
- 32. Cor. 1.
- 4John. 3.Iohn. 3.
- 5Ephe. 5.
