Furthermore, in the phrase of speech is to be noted what is proper unto Christ. For he saith not, he is dead unto sin, that he might cease to sin, like as it must be said, if the talk be of us: but because he dyed for sin, that offering himself the price of our redemption, he might bring the power and authority of sin unto naught. And he saith that he dyed once, not only because eternal redemption being purchased by his only one sacrifice, & purgation of sin being made by his blood, he hath sanctified the faithful for ever: but also that we might be answerable by a mutual resemblance or similitude. For albeit death spiritual hath his continual proceedings in us, ⟨image 88⟩yet are we properly said to die once, whiles Christ by his blood reconciling us to the father,1 doth also by the virtue of his spirit regenerate us. In that he liveth. Whither you expound it with God or in God all cometh to one sense. For his meaning is, he now liveth a life subject to no mortality, in the immortal & incorruptible kingdom of God:2 the figure whereof ought to appear in the regeneration of the godly. Here we are to keep in mind the word similitude. For he saith not we shall live in heaven as Christ liveth there: but he maketh that new life which by regeneration we lead in earth conformable to his celestial life. And whereas he saith we must die to sin after his example, it is not so, that it may be called the same death. For we dye to sin, when sin dieth in us, but it is otherwise in Christ who by dying, did put sin to flight. Now verily whereas he said before, we believe there is a life shall be common unto us, by the word believe, he sufficiently showeth, that he speaketh of the grace of Christ. For if he had only admonished us of our duty, he should have said thus, seeing we are dead with Christ, we must likewise live with him. And this word believe noteth that the doctrine of faith is handled here, which is grounded upon the promises: as though it were said, Christians ought to resolve themselves that through the benefit of Christ they are so dead according to the flesh, that the same Christ may continue in them newness of life unto the end. The future tense in the verb, live, doth not appertain unto the last resurrection: but simply noteth the perpetual course of a new life, so long as we live in this world.
Furthermore, in the phrase of speech is to bee noted what is proper vnto Christ. For he saith not, hee is dead vnto sinne, that he might cease to sinne, like as it must be sayd, if the talke be of vs: but because hee dyed for sinne, that offering himselfe the price of our redemption, hee might bring the power and authoritie of sinne vnto naught. And he saith that he dyed once, not onely because eternall redemption beeyng purchased by his only one sacrifice, & purgation of sinne being made by his blood, he hath sanctified the faithfull for euer: but also that we might be aunswearable by a mutuall resemblance or similitude. For albeit death spirituall hath his continuall proceedinges in vs, ⟨image 88⟩yet are we properly saide to die once, whiles Christ by his blood reconciling vs to the father,1 doth also by the vertue of his spirite regenerate vs. In that he liueth. Whither you expound it with God or in God all commeth to one sence. For his meaning is, he now liueth a life subiect to no mortalitie, in the immortall & incorruptible kingdome of God:2 the figure whereof ought to appeare in the regeneration of the godly. Here we are to keepe in minde the word similitude. For hee saith not we shall liue in heauen as Christ liueth there: but he maketh that new life which by regeneration we leade in earth conformable to his celestiall life. And whereas he saith we must die to sinne after his example, it is not so, that it may be called the same death. For we dye to sinne, when sinne dieth in vs, but it is otherwise in Christe who by dying, did put sinne to flight. Nowe verily whereas he saide before, we beleeue there is a life shalbee common vnto vs, by the worde beleeue, hee sufficiently sheweth, that he speaketh of the grace of Christ. For if he had onely admonished vs of our duetie, hee shoulde haue saide thus, seeing wee are dead with Christ, we must likewise liue with him. And this worde beleeue noteth that the doctrine of faith is handled here, which is grounded vpon the promises: as though it were said, Christians ought to resolue themselues yt through the benefite of Christ they are so dead according to ye flesh, that the same Christ may cōtinue in thē newnesse of life vnto the ende. The future tense in the verbe, liue, doth not apperteyne vnto the last resurrection: but simply noteth the perpetuall course of a new life, so long as we liue in this world.
- 1Heb. 10.14.
- 2The figure of Christ his celestial life ought to appear in the regeneration of the godly.The figure of Christ his celestiall life ought to appeare in the regeneration of the godly.
