That also is most false, that the minds of men are withdrawn from the affection of welldoing, when we take from them the opinion of meriting. Here by the way the readers must be warned, that they foolishly reason from reward to merit, as I shall afterward more plainly declare: namely because they know not this principle, that God is no less liberal when he assigneth reward to works, than when he giveth power to do well. But this I had rather differ to the place fit for it. Now it shall be enough to touch how weak their objection is: which shall be done two ways. For first whereas they say that there shall be no care of well framing of life, but when hope of reward is set before them: they err quite from the truth. For if this only be intended when men serve God, that they look to reward, or let out to hire or sell their labours to him, they little prevail: for God will be freely worshipped, freely loved: he (I say) alloweth that worshipper, which when all hope of receiving reward is cut of, yet ceaseth not to worship him. Moreover if men be to be pricked forward, no man can put sharper spurs unto them, than those that are taken of the end of our redemption and calling: such as the word of God spurreth men withal, when it teacheth, that it is to wicked unthankfulness, not mutually to love him again which first loved us: that by the blood of Christ our consciences are cleansed from dead works,1 to serve the living God: that it is a heinous sacrilege, if being ones cleansed, we defile our selves with new filthiness, and profane that holy blood: that we are delivered from the hands of our enemies, that we may without fear serve him in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life:2 that we are made free from sin, that we may with a free Spirit follow righteousness: that our old man is crucified, that we ⟨p. 197⟩may rise again into newness of life: again that if we be dead with Christ (as becometh his members) we must seek those things that are above,3 and must in the world be wayfaring men from home, that we may long toward heaven where is our treasure:4 that the grace of God hath appeared to this end, that forsaking all ungodliness & worldly desires, we may live soberly, holily, and godlily in this world, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of the great God & saviour:
That also is moste false, that the mindes of men are withdrawen from the affection of weldoyng, when we take from them the opinion of merityng. Here by the way the readers must be warned, that they foolishly reason frō reward to merit, as I shall afterward more plainly declare: namely bicause they know not this principle, that God is no lesse liberal when he assigneth reward to workes, than whē he geueth power to do well. But this I had rather differre to the place fit for it. Now it shalbe enough to touche howe weake their obiection is: whiche shalbe done two wayes. For first whereas they say that there shalbe no care of well framyng of life, but when hope of reward is set before them: they erre quite from the truth. For if this only be entēded when men serue God, that thei loke to reward, or let out to hire or sell their labors to him, they litle preuayle: for God will be freely worshipped, freely loued: he (I say) alloweth that worshipper, which when all hope of receyuing reward is cut of, yet cesseth not to worshippe him. Moreouer if men be to be pricked forward, no man can put sharper spurres vnto them, than those that are taken of the ende of our redēption and calling: such as the word of God spurreth men withal, when it teacheth, that it is to wicked vnthākefulnesse, not mutually to loue him agayne whiche first loued vs: that by the blood of Christ our consciences are cleansed from dead workes,1 to serue the liuyng God: that it is a haynous sacrilege, if beyng ones cleased, we defile our selues with newe filthinesse, and prophane that holy blood: that we are deliuered from the handes of our enemies, that we maye without feare serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life:2 that we are made free from sinne, that we maye with a free Spirit folow righteousnesse: that our olde man is crucified, that we ⟨p. 197⟩may rise agayne into newnesse of life: agayne that if we be dead with Christ (as becommeth his members) we must seeke those thinges that are aboue,3 and must in the world be wayfaring men from home, that we may long toward heauen where is our treasure:4 that the grace of God hath appered to this end, that forsakyng al vngodlinesse & worldly desires, we maye liue soberly, holyly, and godlyly in this world, lokyng for the blessed hope and the appering of the glorie of the great God & sauior:
- 1Hebr. ix.xiiii. Luc. i.•x•iij.
- 2Rom. vi.xviij.
- 3Col. iii.i.
- 4Tit. ij.xi.
