Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

For he doth evidently expound justification by sanctification, and sanctification by the remission of sins. Furthermore, what else is sanctification but the adoption whereby we are received into the grace and number of the sons of God? What is he therefore, that seeth not that in this treatise of Saint Paul, justification is taken for adoption? especially, since in the very same fourth Chapter to the Romans: he goeth about to prove, that an inheritance is due to faith, whereunto also he doth attribute justification. By all this it is made manifest, that the question of justification containeth nothing else, ⟨p. 46⟩out the manner and reason of sanctification, that is to say, whereby and how men have their sins forgiven, and are received into the grace and number of the sons of God, and being justified are made heirs of the kingdom of God.

For he doth euidently expounde iustification by sanctification, and sanctification by the remission of sinnes. Furthermore, what else is sanctification but the adoption whereby we are receiued into the grace and number of the sonnes of God? What is he therefore, that séeth not that in this treatise of Saint Paule, iustification is taken for adoption? especially, since in the very same fourth Chapter to the Romanes: he goeth about to proue, that an inheritance is due to fayth, wherevnto also he doth attribute iustification. By all this it is made manifest, that the question of iustification containeth nothing else, ⟨p. 46⟩out the manner and reason of sanctification, that is to say, wherby and how men haue their sinnes forgiuen, and are receiued into the grace and number of the sonnes of God, and being iustified are made heires of the kingdome of God.

And now, let us try whether that which we have said be taught in the ¹Scriptures, ye Christ before the judgement seat of God, when sentence of condemnation was to be pronounced against us for our offences, took our sins upon his own neck, and purged them by the sacrifice of his death upon the cross, and that God also laid upon Christ our fault and punishment, so that Christ alone is the only satisfaction & purging of the faithful. This doth the Apostle Paul teach most expressly, where he saith: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that justifieth. Who shall condemn? It is Christ that dyed yea rather it is he which is raised up, & is at the right hand of the father making intercession for us. And again he saith, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, while he was made the curse for us. For it is written, cursed be every one that hangeth on the tree, that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham through Jesus Christ. &c. This did the Apostle teach out of the writings of Moses. And Moses in his books doth often times make mention, ye the sins are laid upon the heads of the beasts which were sacrificed. But those sacrifices bare the type or figure of the death and sacrifice of Christ. Isaiah also in his. 53. chapter saith expressly, He verily hath taken on him our infirmities, and born our pains, He was wounded for our iniquities, and smitten for our sins. For the pain of our punishment was laid upon him, and with his stripes ar we healed. We all went astray like sheep, every one turned his own way, but the Lord hath thrown upon him all our sins. And immediately after, He hath taken away the sins of the multitude, and made intercession for the transgressors. Then these words I think, nothing can be brought more to the matter, or more fit for our present purpose. To this alludeth Saint Peter when he saith, The Lord him self bare our sins in his body upon the cross, that we being dead to sin may live to righteousness, by the sign of whose stripes we are made whole. Hereunto alluded S. John the forerunner of the Lord, when he said: Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. Moreover the Apostle Paul beareth witness hereto saying: