Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

He doeth also attribute to the people of the new testament a most exquisite reformation and absolute illumination of their minds. For he saith, I will plant my laws in their minds, and write them in their hearts: and then shall no man teach his neighbour or his brother, saying: Know the Lord: for they shall all know me from the little unto the great. But of the law it is written that it was graven in tables of stone. Yet for all this let no man think that the fathers obtained no remission of their sins. For as they by faith had free forgiveness of their sins, so did God both write his law, and pour his spirit into their hearts. For which of us at this day can say that we excel in knowledge and in faith either Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Daniel, or Zechariah? So then the difference is not, in that the fathers of the old testament were without the remission of sins, and the illumination of the holy Ghost, and that we alone, which are the people of the new testament, have obtained them: but the difference doeth consist in the greatness, ampleness, largeness, and plentifulness of the gifts, to wit, because they are more liberally bestowed, and more plentifully poured out upon more now, than they were of old. For all nations being called, do not by dropmeale, but by whole handfuls draw the water of life. The Lord doth pour out his spirit upon all flesh. Of old, God was known in Jury only, but now since Christ is come into the world, his disciples are gone thorough all the corners of the earth, & teach all kingdoms to know the Lord.

Hée doeth also attribute to the people of the newe testament a most exquisite reformation and absolute illumination of their minds. For he saith, I wil plant my lawes in their mindes, and write them in their heartes: and then shall no mā teach his neighbour or his brother, saying: Knowe the Lord: for they shall all knowe mee from the little vnto the greate. But of ye law it is written that it was grauen in tables of stone. Yet for all this let no man thinke that the fathers obteined no remission of their sinnes. For as they by faith had frée forgiuenesse of their sinnes, so did God both write his lawe, and powre his spirite into their heartes. For which of vs at this day can saye that wée excell in knowledge and in faith either Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Dauid, Esaie, Daniel, or Zacharias? So then the difference is not, in that the fathers of the old testamente were without the remission of sinnes, and the illumination of the holie Ghoste, and that wée alone, which are the people of the newe testament, haue obteined them: but the difference doeth consiste in the greatnesse, amplenesse, largenesse, and plentifulnesse of the giftes, to witt, because they are more liberallie bestowed, and more plentifully powred out vppon more nowe, than they were of old. For all nations being called, doe not by dropmeale, but by whole handfulls drawe the water of life. The Lord doth powre out his spirite vppon all fleshe. Of old, God was knowen in Iurie onely, but nowe since Christe is come into the world, his disciples are gone thoroughe all the corners of the earth, & teach all kingdomes to knowe the Lord.