This is an exposition of the former sentence with an amplification, taken from the comparison of life and death. We were enemies (quoth he) when Christ took upon him the mediation to reconcile the father. Now we are friends through his reconciliation: if that could be brought to pass by his death, his life shall be of greater power, and more effectual. So then we have notable testimonies, which may confirm the confidence of salvation in our hearts. His meaning is, we were reconciled to GOD by the death of Christ, because it was the sacrifice of reconciliation, whereby GOD was ⟨image 78⟩reconciled to the world, as I have declared in the fourth Chapter. But here the Apostle seemeth to be contrary unto himself. For if the death of Christ were the pledge of the love of God towards us:1 It followeth that even then we were acceptable to him,2 but now he saith we were enemies: I answer, because God hateth sin, we also are odious unto him, as we are sinners, but as in his secret counsel he electeth us into the body of Christ, he ceaseth to hate us. But the restoring into favour is unknown unto us, until we perceive it by faith. Therefore in respect of our selves, we are alway enemies, until the death of Christ come between to reconcile God. And this difference of a twofold respect is to be noted. For otherwise we know not the free mercy of God, then if we be persuaded that he spared not his only begotten Son, because he loved us at such time as there was enmity between him and us: Again we do not sufficiently feel the benefit brought unto us by the death of Christ, except this be unto us the beginning of our reconciliation with God, that we being persuaded, the satisfaction being performed, he is now favourable to us, who before was justly angry with us. So when acceptation into grace is ascribed to the death of Christ, the meaning is, that then the guiltiness is taken away, whereunto we are otherwise subject.
This is an exposition of the former sentence with an amplification, taken frome the comparison of life and death. Wee were enemies (quoth hee) when Christe tooke vpon him the mediation to reconcile the father. Nowe we are friendes through his reconciliation: if that coulde bee brought to passe by his death, his life shall be of greater power, and more effectuall. So then we haue notable testimonies, which may cōfirme ye confidence of saluation in our heartes. His meaning is, wee were reconciled to GOD by the death of Christe, because it was the sacrifice of reconciliation, whereby GOD was ⟨image 78⟩reconciled to the worlde, as I haue declared in the fourth Chapter. But here the Apostle seemeth to be contrary vnto himselfe. For if the death of Christ were the pledge of the loue of God towards vs:1 It followeth that euen then we were acceptable to him,2 but now he saith we were enimies: I aunsweare, because God hateth sinne, we also are odious vnto him, as we are sinners, but as in his secret counsayle he electeth vs into the body of Christ, he ceaseth to hate vs. But the restoring into fauour is vnknowne vnto vs, vntill we perceiue it by faith. Therefore in respect of our selues, we are alway enimies, vntil the death of Christ come betweene to reconcile God. And this difference of a twofold respect is to be noted. For otherwise we know not the free mercy of God, then if we be perswaded that he spared not his onely begotten sonne, because he loued vs at suche time as there was enmitie betweene him and vs: Againe wee doe not sufficiently feele the benefite brought vnto vs by the death of Christe, except this be vnto vs the beginning of our reconciliation with God, that wee being perswaded, the satisfaction being perfourmed, hee is nowe fauourable to vs, who before was iustly angrie with vs. So when acceptation into grace is ascribed to the death of Christe, the meaning is, that then the guiltinesse is taken away, whereunto wee are otherwise subiect.
- 1Objection.Obiection.
- 2Answer.Answeare.
