IF that sinful Mary's1 sins were forgiven her, for the love which she bore to Christ, then she recompensed this her forgiveness, and therefore it was not the free gift of God, neither were her sins remitted by grace? But the Gospel teacheth that she had remission of her sins, without any desert: For the Lord saith. There was a certain man which had two debtors, and when they were not able to pay him, he forgave both of them the debts. Wherefore if her debt were forgiven and pardoned, then did she not purchase, or deserve it by her love. Furthermore, the words of the gospel plainly teach that Mary's love sprang from the forgiveness of her sins, and not the forgiveness of her sins from her love: for so is it written. Of these two therefore (that is to say, of the two debtors which were pardoned) tell me which vvill love him most. Simon answered, saying: I think him, to whom most ⟨p. 57⟩was forgiven. And he said to him, thou hast judged right. And therefore he afterward telleth with what great love Mary embraced him, and that because he had forgiven her many sins. Yet notwithstanding, these men dare manifestly affirm the contrary, to wit, that •ure Lord forgave her her sins, & that for her loves sake. But yet they object that Christ said: Many sins are forgiven her, for she loved much. To that I answer, that it is all one, as if he should have said: many sins are forgiven her▪ and therefore she loveth much. And that this is the true meaning of our Lords words, the things which go before, and the things which follow after, do manifestly teach. For even immediately after these words he saith, To whom a little is remitted, he loveth a little. Then knitteth he up his words thus: Thy fins are forgiven thee. Thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace. See therefore what saved her: first the free grace of our Lord, by which her sins were forgiven: secondly, faith, by the which she received the mercy or grace of god, and committed ⟨image 68⟩her self wholly to him. And here hence it came that she obtained quietness, and faithfully loved him.
IF that sinnefull Maries1 sinnes were forgiuē hir, for the loue which shée bore to Christ, then shée recompenced thys hir forgiuenesse, and therefore it was not the frée gift of God, neither wer hir sinnes remitted by grace? But the Gospell teacheth that shée had remission of hir sinnes, without any desert: For the Lorde sayth. There vvas a certaine man vvhich had tvvo detters, and vvhen they vvere not able to paie him, he forgaue bothe of them the dets. Wherfore if hir det were forgiuen and pardoned, then did shée not purchase, or deserue it by hir loue. Furthermore, the wordes of the gospel plainly teache that Maries loue sprang from the forgiuenesse of hir sinnes, and not the forgiuenesse of hir sinnes from hir loue: for so is it written. Of these tvvo therefore (that is to say, of the two detters which were pardoned) tell me vvhiche vvill loue him most. Simon answered, saying: I thinke him, to vvhome moste ⟨p. 57⟩vvas forgiuen. And he said to him, thou hast iudged right. And therefore he afterwarde telleth with what great loue Marie embraced him, and that bicause he had forgiuen hir many sinnes. Yet notwithstāding, these men dare manifestly affirme the contrary, to wit, that •ure Lord forgaue hir hir sinnes, & that for hir loues sake. But yet they obiect yt Christ sayd: Many sinnes are forgiuen hir, for shee loued much. To that I answere, that it is all one, as if he should haue sayd: many sinnes are forgiuē hir▪ and therfore shée loueth much. And that this is the true meaning of our Lordes words, the things which go before, and the things which folow after, do manifestly teache. For euen immediatly after these words he saith, To vvhome a little is remitted, he loueth a little. Then knitteth he vp his words thus: Thy fins are forgiuen thee. Thy faith hath saued thee, go in peace. Sée therfore what saued hir: first the free grace of our Lord, by which hir sinnes were forgiuen: secondly, faith, by the which shee receyued the mercy or grace of god, and committed ⟨image 68⟩hir selfe wholely to him. And héere hence it came that shée obtained quietnesse, and faithfully loued him.
- 1Mary therefore loved because her sins were remitted.Marie therfore loued bicause hir sinnes were remitted.
