Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

Now that we may conclude this place I will here recite the words of the Apostle in the 8. to the Romans, saying, What the law could not do, in as much as it was weak thorough the flesh, that God performed by sending his own son in the similitude of sinful flesh, and by sin condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, which walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. The Apostle in these words teacheth us two things. First that the law neither can now, nor never could justify us men. The fault of this weakness or lack of ability he casteth not upon the law, which is of it self good and effectual, & is the doctrine of most absolute righteousness: but he layeth the fault thereof upon our corrupt flesh. Our flesh neither could nor can perform that, which is required of us by the law of God. Whereupon S. Peter in the council held at Jerusalem is read to have said, Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put on the disciples necks the yoke which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? The latter is inferred upon the first, to wit, when the law could not give us life, nor we were able to do y• which the law required at our hands, then God, who is rich in mercy and goodness sent his son into the world, that he being incarnate should die for us, and so take away the sin of our imperfection, & bestow on us his perfectness in faith, being himself the perfectness and fullness of the law. By this therefore it is manifest y• Christ hath fulfilled the law, & that he is the perfectness of all the faithful in the world. But here this place requireth a more full exposition, how Christ hath fulfilled the law, & how he is made our ¹perfectness. First of all, whatsoever things are promised and prefigured in the law & the Prophets, all those hath Christ our lord fulfilled. For those promises, The seed of the woman shall crush the Serpents head: In thee shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed: & other more innumerable like to these, did our Lord fulfil, when he being borne into this world, made an atonement for us, & brought back life to us again.

Nowe that wée may conclude this place I will héere recite the words of the Apostle in the 8. to the Romanes, saying, What the lawe could not doe, in as much as it was weake thorough the flesh, that God performed by sending his owne sonne in the similitude of sinnefull flesh, and by sinne condemned sinne in the flesh, that the righteousnesse of the lawe might bee fulfilled in vs, which walke not after the flesh, but after the spirite. The Apostle in these words teacheth vs two things. First that the law neither can now, nor neuer could iustifie vs men. The fault of this weakenesse or lacke of abilitie he casteth not vpon the law, which is of it selfe good and effectual, & is the doctrine of most absolute righteousnesse: but he layeth the fault therof vpon our corrupt flesh. Our flesh neither could nor can performe that, whiche is required of vs by ye law of God. Whereupon S. Peter in the counsell held at Hierusalē is read to haue said, Now therfore why tempt ye God, to put on the disciples neckes the yoke which neither our fathers nor wee were able to beare? The latter is inferred vpon the first, to wit, when the lawe could not giue vs life, nor wée were able to do y which the law required at our hands, thē God, who is rich in mercie and goodnesse sent his sonne into the world, that he being incarnate should die for vs, and so take away the sinne of our imperfection, & bestow on vs his perfectnesse in faith, being himselfe the perfectnes and fulnesse of the law. By this therfore it is manifest y Christ hath fulfilled the lawe, & that he is the perfectnes of al ye faithful in the world. But here this place requireth a more ful exposition, how Christ hath fulfilled the law, & how he is made our