A17218:78
Look from Adam, and behold the Protestants faith and religion evidently proved out of…Looke from Adam, and behold the Protestants faith and religion evidently proued out of…
Look from Adam, and behold the Protestants faith and religion evidently proved out of the holy Scriptures against all atheists, papists, loose libertines, and carnal gospellers: and that the faith which they profess, hath continued from the beginning of the world, and so is the true and ancient faith. Herein hast thou also a short sum of the whole Bible, and a plain manifestation, that all holy men who have pleased God, have been saved through this Christian faith alone.Looke from Adam, and behold the Protestants faith and religion evidently proued out of the holy Scriptures against all atheists, papists, loose libertines, and carnall gospellers: and that the faith which they professe, hath continued from the beginning of the world, and so is the true and ancient faith. Herein hast thou also a short summe of the whole Bible, and a plaine manifestation, that all holy men who have pleased God, have beene saved through this Christian faith alone.
London: printed by John Haviland for Thomas Pavier, 1624London: printed by Iohn Haviland for Thomas Pavier, 1624
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now were the promises made unto Abraham and to his seed. He saith not, In the seeds, as in many, but as in one: And in thy seed, which is Christ. All these are Pauls words, and the meaning of them is; For as much as the Testaments or works of men are of such reputation in the world, that when they are made, ordained and confirmed, no man dare add ought to them, or minish any thing from them, but every man must let them be as they are of themselves:1 It is much more reason that Gods Testament or bequest remain still, and that nothing be added to it, or taken from it. Now did God make a Testament or bequest with Abraham, and promised him therein, that he would give him a seed, in whom he and his children should be saved. And the same salvation did he expressly appoint in one, and not in many. Wherefore we must add nothing unto Gods bequest, seeing he hath promised us salvation in Christ only, and not in many (that is to say, in no creature, not in our own power and works of the Law) neither must we think, that ⟨p. 43⟩the Law was afterward added to the intent as though Christ were not able to save us, or as though we might obtain salvation by our own works out of the Law. For thus followeth it in Paul word to word:2 This Testament (I say) which afore was confirmed to Christward, is not disannulled or made of none effect by the Law (which was given beyond four hundred years thereafter.) For if the inheritance begotten by the Law, then is it not given by the promise. But God gave it freely unto Abraham by promise. These are Pauls words, out of the which every man may understand, that to the generation of man,3 salvation is given only of the grace of God through the promise, and through no deserving at all: and that the law of the promise (that is to say, the bequest and Testament of God) is nothing minished, but that the sum remaineth without blemish, namely, that salvation is given us freely.
Now were the promises made unto Abraham and to his seed. He saith not, In the seeds, as in many, but as in one: And in thy seed, which is Christ. All these are Pauls words, and the meaning of them is; For as much as the Testaments or workes of men are of such reputation in the world, that when they are made, ordained and confirmed, no man dare adde ought to them, or minish any thing from them, but every man must let them be as they are of themselves: