Furthermore we must note by what means the grace of God in Christ,1 redemption, righteousness, and eternal life is imputed unto us, and on the other side how we receive it, and by ⟨p. 50⟩what means they be made ours, so that Christ in us, and we in him do live. All the good gifts of God are imputed unto us by the holy Ghost, as the holy Scripture testifieth almost every where, and chiefly our Lord him self saith: It is the spirit which quickeneth, &c. And we receive all these things by faith, yea by faith only, and by none other thing. And therefore it may very well be said, that a man is justified by saith only. For Christ him self in the third of John teacheth us, that we must be saved even after the same manner as the Israelites were healed of the deadly stinging of the Serpents. For as they could by none other means attain unto health, than by the beholding of the Brazen Serpent hanged up in the middest of their Camp: so we can by none other means be delivered from everlasting death and damnation, and be preserved in eternal life, than by the beholding of Christ Crucified. And this beholding of Jesus Christ is faith, yea faith only. ⟨image 61⟩For as no Works, no Prayers, Fastings, Alms, Sacrifices, or any thing else, whatsoever could help the stinging of the Serpent, but only the beholding of the Brazen Serpent, so is there nothing that can save us, but Faith only. Wherefore Christ in the sixth Chapter of Saint John, saith: Verily verily I say unto you, except you eat the flesh of the son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you. And to eat, the Lord him self interpreteth it to believe. But if there be any that desire to know more testimonies, by the which our Justification in Christ by Faith only is proved, then let him read the third and fourth Chapters of S. Paul to the Romans, and also the Epistle to the Galatians, where the Apostle in the second Chapter writeth thus: Now live I no longer, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God. &c.
Furthermore we must note by what meanes the grace of God in Chryste,1 redemption, righteousnesse, and eternall lyfe is imputed vnto vs, and on the other side howe wée receiue it, and by ⟨p. 50⟩what meanes they bée made ours, so that Chryste in vs, and we in him doo lyue. All the good giftes of God are imputed vnto vs by the holy Ghoste, as the holy Scripture testifieth almoste euery where, and chiefly our Lorde him selfe saythe: It is the spirit which quickeneth, &c. And wée receiue all these things by fayth, yea by fayth only, and by none other thing. And therefore it may very well bee sayde, that a man is iustified by saythe onely. For Chryste him selfe in the thirde of John teacheth vs, that wée muste bée saued euen after the same manner as the Israelites were healed of the deadely stinging of the Serpentes. For as they coulde by none other meanes attayne vnto healthe, than by the beholding of the Brasen Serpent hanged vp in the myddest of their Campe: so wée can by none other meanes bée delyuered from euerlasting deathe and damnation, and bée preserued in eternall lyfe, than by the beholding of Chryste Crucifyed. And thys beholding of Jesus Chryste is fayth, yea fayth onely. ⟨image 61⟩For as no Woorkes, no Prayers, Fastings, Almes, Sacrifices, or any thing else, whatsoeuer coulde helpe the stynging of the Serpente, but onely the beholdyng of the Brasen Serpente, so is there nothing that can saue vs, but Faythe onely. Wherefore Chryst in the sixthe Chapter of Sainct John, saythe: Veryly veryly I say vnto you, excepte you eate the fleshe of the sonne of man, and drinke his bloud, you haue no lyfe in you. And to eate, the Lorde hym selfe interpreteth it to beléeue. But if there bee anye that desire to knowe more testimonies, by the whiche our Justification in Chryste by Faythe onely is proued, then let him reade the thirde and fourthe Chapters of S. Paule to the Romanes, and also the Epistle to the Galathians, where the Apostle in the second Chapter writeth thus: Nowe lyue I no longer, but Chryste lyueth in mee. And the lyfe whiche I nowe lyue in the fleshe, I lyue by the faythe of the sonne of God. &c.
- 1By what means righteousness is imputed to us.By what meanes rightuousnesse is impu•ed to vs.
