This Question touching the free1 will of man, is the very ground & foundation of that proud and arrogant ⟨p. 44⟩doctrine concerning the merits of man: as though there were any good in us of our own selves, or as though we were able to do good freely, by our own power, for the which God must needs let us have eternal life. But yet the holy scripture teacheth us an other lesson, how that man can not do any good thing as of him self, neither by all his power accomplish any good. For his understanding and free will, not being regenerated, is so foully blotted and defaced in him by his first transgression, and so wrapped in sin and wickedness, that even by nature he is carried headlong unto all manner of evil, so as he is made very unfit and unapt to goodness. And then what liberty or free will can be attributed to such a man? S. Paul saith: The wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God: neither is it subject to the law of God, neither can it be. Read the third Chapter also of his Epistle to the Romans. But who so ever is borne a new by grace, through the operation of the holy Ghost, of him is this saying of Christ to be understanded: ⟨image 55⟩He which doth sin, is the servant of sin. But if the same have made you free, then are you free in deed. That is, you are made free from sin, the devil, death and damnation, that freely and with good will by the operation of the holy ghost, and not by compulsion, you might do the good thing, which you do. And they which are so redeemed and endued with Christian liberty, they attribute not the good which they do unto their own power, and free will, but to the grace of Christ, and to the holy ghost, which worketh the same in them. For Christ saith in the fifteenth of John. He that abideth in me, and in whom2 I abide, he bringeth forth much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. And S. Pauls saith, in the second Epistle3 to the Corint. and third chapter: we are not able to do any good thing of our selves, as of our selves: but all our ability thereunto cometh of God. And in4 an other place he saith: what hast thou that thou hast not received? wherefore if thou have received it, why boastest thou as though thou hadst not received it? ⟨p. 45⟩And again he saith: It is given to you5 in the things appertaining to Christ, that not only you should believe in him, but also suffer affliction for his names sake:
THis Question touching the frée1 wil of man, is the very ground & foundation of that proude and arrogant ⟨p. 44⟩doctrine concerning the merites of man: as though there were any good in vs of our owne selues, or as thoughe we were able to doe good fréely, by our owne power, for the which God muste néedes let vs haue eternall life. But yet the holy scripture teacheth vs an other lesson, how that man cā not do any good thing as of him selfe, neither by all his power accōplish any good. For his vnderstanding and frée will, not being regenerated, is so fowly blotted and defaced in him by his first trāsgression, and so wrapped in sinne and wickednesse, that euen by nature he is caried hedlōg vnto al manner of euil, so as he is made very vnfit and vnapte to goodnesse. And then what libertie or free wil can be attributed to such a man? S. Paule saith: The wisdome of the fleshe is an enemie to God: neither is it subject to the lavve of God, neither can it be. Read the third Chapter also of his Epistle to the Romanes. But who so euer is borne a newe by grace, throughe the operation of the holy Ghoste, of him is this saying of Christe to bee vnderstanded: ⟨image 55⟩He vvhich dothe sinne, is the seruaunte of sinne. But if the same haue made you free, then are you free in dede. That is, you are made frée from sinne, the diuel, death and damnation, yt fréely and with good will by the operation of the holy ghost, and not by cōpulsion, you might do ye good thing, which you do. And they whiche are so redéemed and indewed with Christian libertie, they attribute not the good which they doe vnto their owne power, and frée will, but to the grace of Christe, and to the holy ghost, which worketh the same in them. For Christe saythe in the fiftienth of Jhon. He that abideth in me, and in vvhome2 I abide, he bringeth forthe muche frute, for vvithout me you can doe nothing. And S. Pauls saith, in the second Epistle3 to the Corint. and third chapter: we are not able to do any good thing of our selues, as of our selues: but all our habilitie thereunto commeth of God. And in4 an other place he saithe: what hast thou that thou hast not receiued? wherfore if thou haue receiued it, why bostest thou as thoughe thou hadste not receyued it? ⟨p. 45⟩
- 1The doctrine of free vvill is an arrogant doctrine.The doctrine of free vvill is an arrogante doctrine.
- 2Joan. 15.Ioan. 15.
- 32. Corin. 3.
- 41. Corin. 4.
- 5Philip. 1. •.
