Touching these three singular1 gifts of God, S. Paul speaketh distinctly, giving to each of them their peculiar properties. 1. Thes. 1. We give ⟨p. 47⟩thanks unto God almighty for you all, making mention of you in our prayers: remembering always your effectual faith, diligent or working love, and steadfast hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. &c. And forasmuch as he giveth thanks and prayers unto God, he teacheth, that these virtues are freely given from him unto men, and that therefore they ought to pray and render thanks unto him. And unto faith he attributeth a certain effectual working, because that from her all good works, yea hope and charity do spring. And he calleth charity diligentor working, because true charity or love laboureth and exerciseth her self to please both God and man. And to hope he attributeth steadfastness and patience, because Paul in the eight to the Romans saith: That we are made safe through hope. But hope if it be seen is no hope. For how can a man hope for that which he seeth? But if we hope for the thing which we see not, by patience we look for them. Therefore faith, hope and charity are distincted virtues, and have each their ⟨image 58⟩proper operations. And therefore are they severally reckoned by S. Paul 1. Corin 1. in which place he saith that2 these three are. Again these virtues are so coupled together, and depend so one of an other, that they can not in any wise be had severally. For who so rightly believeth in God and his word, the same also hopeth to receive the things he looketh for: Like as Paul teacheth out of the Prophet Habakkuk in the Epistle to the Hebrews cap. 10. Again, who so rightly believeth in God, loveth him as his chief and everlasting good: and loveth man because he is the image of God, redeemed by him, as S. John teacheth in his Epistle. And therefore Paul to the Hebrews Cap. 11. interpreteth faith by hope, saying: Faith is the substance or ground of things which are hoped for. And in his first Epistle to Timothy he showeth that charity springeth from faith, saying: Furthermore the end of the commandments, love from a pure hart, a good conscience, and faith unfeigned. Therefore like as there is but one sun, and ⟨p. 48⟩yet he is not alone: so is there but one faith, and yet is she not alone.
TOuching these thrée singuler1 giftes of God, S. Paule speaketh distinctly, giuing to ech of them their peculyar properties. 1. Thes. 1. VVe giue ⟨p. 47⟩thanks vnto God almightie for you all, making mention of you in our praiers: remembring alwayes your effectuall fayth, diligēt or working loue, and stedfast hope in our Lord Iesus Chryst. &c. And forasmuche as he giueth thankes and prayers vnto God, he teacheth, that these vertues are fréely giuen frō him vnto men, and that therefore they ought to pray and render thankes vnto him. And vnto faythe he attributeth a certayne effectuall working, bicause that from hir all good works, yea hope and charitie do spring. And he calleth charity diligētor working, bicause true charitie or loue laboreth and exerciseth hir selfe to please bothe God and man. And to hope he attributeth stedfastnesse and pacience, bicause Paul in the eight to the Romanes sayth: That wee are made safe throughe hope. But hope if it be seene is no hope. For how can a man hope for that which he seeth? But if we hope for the thing whiche we see not, by pacience wée looke for them. Therefore fayth, hope and charitie are distincted vertues, and haue eche their ⟨image 58⟩proper operations. And therefore are they seuerally reckened by S. Paule 1. Corin 1. in which place he sayth that2 these thrée are. Agayne these vertues are so coupled togither, and depende so one of an other, that they can not in any wise be hadde seuerally. For who so rightly beléeueth in God and his word, the same also hopeth to receiue the things he looketh for: Lyke as Paule teacheth out of the Prophet Abacuc in the Epistle to the Hebrues cap. 10. Againe, who so rightly beléeueth in God, loueth him as his chefe and euerlasting good: and loueth man bicause he is the image of God, redéemed by him, as S. John teacheth in his Epistle. And therfore Paule to the Hebrues Cap. 11. interpreteth fayth by hope, saying: Fayth is the substance or grounde of thynges which are hoped for. And in hys firste Epistle to Timothe he sheweth that charitie springeth from faythe, saying: Furthermore the end of the commaundementis, loue from a pure hart, a good conscience, and fayth vnfayned. Therefore like as there is but one sunne, and ⟨p. 48⟩
- 1Each of these virtues have their peculiar propertiesEche of these vertues haue their peculiar properties
- 2These three virtues are so coupled together that the one springeth of the other.These three vertues are so coupled togither that the one springeth of the other.
