for it keepeth still her flesh, and the infirmities thereof, yea even unto death. Who is ignorant of those writings which Saint Paul hath generally uttered touching the battle between the flesh and the spirit, and that not in the ungodly and unbelievers only, which are not of the Church, but even in the faithful also, and members of the Church. And this battle is so vehement and sharp, that even thereby the godly are forced, not to do that good and just thing which they know, but to do that which they ought not to do: Read S. Pauls fifth chapter to the Galatians, & also the seventh to the Romans. ⟨image 19⟩Yet nevertheless, the same Apostle calleth the Galatians and Corinthians,1 the true church of Christ, as purified by his blood, and governed by his holy spirit, whereas notwithstanding, he accuseth them of grievous errors and vices, and exhorteth them to repentance, and amendment of their lives. Whereby it is evident that even these most excellent churches of the Apostles have erred. But there is an other Objection brought against us out of the ballads of Solomon, and out of the fifth Chapter of S. Pauls Epistle to the Ephesians: where it is said, that the church is beautiful, and without spot or wrinkle: which place S. Augustine interpreteth, saying: that this purity and holiness is begun in this life, but in the life to come, when through death we shall put of this flesh, it shall be fully perfected, so as we shall have neither spot nor blemish, but be most perfectly pure. Hereunto we add the words2 of Christ, who most plainly expoundeth this matter in the Gospel, saying: He that is washed, needeth not save to ⟨p. 8⟩wash his feet, but is clean every whit. And again he sayeth: Every branch which bringeth forth fruit, my father purgeth that it may bring forth more fruit. Now are you clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. He doeth not only say that the Church is pure, but altogether pure: yea that it may bring forth fruit: and yet nevertheless he speaketh of the washing of the feet, and of the purging which his father shall do.
for it keepeth still hir fleshe, and the infirmities thereof, yea euen vnto death. Who is ignoraunte of those writings which Sainte Paule hathe generally vttered touching the battell betwéene the fleshe and the spirite, and that not in the vngodly and vnbeléeuers onely, whiche are not of the Churche, but euen in the faythefull also, and members of the Church. And this battell is so vehemente and sharpe, that euen thereby the godly are forced, not to doo that good and iuste thyng whyche they knowe, but to doo that which they ought not to doo: Read S. Paules fifth chapter to the Galathians, & also the seuenth to the Romanes. ⟨image 19⟩Yet neuerthelesse, the same Apostle calleth the Galathians and Corinthians,1 the true church of Christ, as purified by his bloude, and gouerned by his holy spirite, whereas notwithstanding, he accuseth them of gréeuous erroures and vices, and exhorteth them to repentaunce, and amendment of theyr liues. Whereby it is euident that euen these most excellent churches of the Apostles haue erred. But there is an other Obiection brought againste vs oute of the ballades of Salomon, and out of the fifth Chapiter of S. Paules Epistle to the Ephesians: where it is sayde, that the church is beautiful, and without spot or wrinkle: which place S. Augustine interpreteth, saying: that this puritie and holinesse is begon in this life, but in the life to come, vvhen through deathe vve shall putte of this fleshe, it shall be fully perfited, so as vve shal haue neither spot nor blemishe, but be moste perfectly pure. Héereunto we adde the woordes2 of Christe, who moste plainly expoundeth this matter in the Gospell, saying: He that is vvashed, needeth not saue to ⟨p. 8⟩vvash his fete, but is cleane euery vvhit. And againe he sayeth: Euery braunche vvhich bringeth forth frute, my father purgeth that it may bring forthe more frute. Novve are you cleane throughe the vvorde vvhich I haue spoken vnto you. He doeth not onely say that the Churche is pure, but altogither pure: yea that it may bring foorthe frute: and yet neuerthelesse he speaketh of the washing of the féete, and of the purging which his father shall doe.
- 12. Cori. 1. 6. Galat. 1. 1.
- 2John. 13. John. 15.Iohn. 13. Iohn. 15.
