Brethren, I speak after y• manner of men. ⟨image 98⟩Though it be, but a mans testament, yet if it be allowed, no man despiseth it, or addeth any thing there unto. To Abraham, and his seed, was the promise made. He sayeth not, in thy seeds, as in many, but in thy seed as of one, which is Christ, this I say, that the law, which began. CCCC and .xxx. years after, doeth not disannul the testament, which was confirmed afore of God, unto Christ ward, to make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance cometh of the law, then it cometh not of the promise. But god gave it, unto Abraham by promise. For if there had ben a law given, which could had given life, then no doubt righteousness, should have comed by the law. But the scripture, concluded all things ⟨image 98⟩under sin, that the promise, by y• faith of Jesus Christ, might be given unto them that believe. In the ii. cha. to the Ephe. ye are saved through faith, & not of our own selves. It is the gift of god, and cometh not of our deeds or works. For we are his own workmanship, created in Jesus Christ to do good deeds, which he hath prepared for us to walk in, & in the .iii. to Ti, we were also foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving to lusts and voluptuousness, living in malice, and envy, hateful or odious and hating each other. But after that the goodness and love of our saviour God, not according to the deeds of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy, had made us safe, by the fountain of ⟨image 99⟩regeneration, and renewing of the holy ghost, which he hath poured upon us abundantly, through our saviour Jesus christ that we being justified by his grace, should be made heirs of everlasting life, according to our hope. These places are plain, and can not be avoided. For they, that speak against them, are no christen men, but fellows of the false Apostles, against whom Paul writeth, calling them evil workmen, and subverters of the gospel of Christ. And by these words, not only the Anabaptists, but also, all popish doctors, are noted, and whosoever beside, do attribute our righteousness and salvation to our deeds & works.
Brethern, I speake after y• maner of men. ⟨image 98⟩Though it be, but a mans testament, yet if it be alowed, no man despiseth it, or addeth any thyng ther vnto. To Abraham, and his sede, was the promise made. He saieth not, in thy sedes, as in many, but in thy sede as of one, which is Christ, this I saie, that the lawe, which beganne. CCCC and .xxx. yeres after, doeth not disanulle the testament, which was confirmed afore of God, vnto Christ warde, to make ye promise of no effecte. For if the inheritaunce cometh of ye law, then it cometh not of ye promise. But god gaue it, vnto Abraham by promise. For if ther had ben a law geuē, which could had geuen life, thē no doubt rightwisnesse, shoulde haue comed by ye lawe. But the scripture, concluded al thinges ⟨image 98⟩vnder sinne, yt the promise, by y• faith of Iesu Christ, might bee geuen vnto them yt beleue. In ye ii. cha. to the Ephe. ye ar saued thorow faith, & not of our owne selues. It is the gift of god, and cometh not of our dedes or workes. For we ar his owne workmāshyp, created in Iesu Christ to do good dedes, which he hath prepared for vs to walke in, & in the .iii. to Ti, we wer also folyshe, disobediente, deceaued, seruyng to lustes and voluptuousnes, liuyng in malice, and enuye, hatefull or odiouse and hatyng eche other. But after yt the goodnes and loue of our sauiour God, not accordynge to the dedes of rightwisnes, whiche we haue done, but accordyng to his mercye, had made vs safe, by the fountayne of ⟨image 99⟩regeneracion, and renuynge of the holy ghost, whiche he hath poured vpon vs abundantely, thorow our sauiour Iesu christ that we beyng iustified by his grace, shulde be made heyres of euerlastyng lyfe, accordyng to our hope. These places are plaine, and can not be auoided. For thei, that speake againste them, are no christen men, but felowes of the false Apostles, against whome Paule writeth, callyng them euyll workemen, and subuersours of the gospell of Christ. And by these wordes, not onely the Anababtistes, but also, all popishe doctours, are noted, and whosoeuer besyde, doo attribute our rightwisnes and saluacion to our dedes & workes.
