And Saint Paul (as we shall see hereafter) hath an eye too the original of Eve: for she was taken out of Adams substance, and shaped of one of his ribs. Now then, are we restored by our Lord Jesus Christ? If we consider our first birth whereby we be brought into this world too be mortal men: we cannot say, such is our flesh, unless we be of the seed of them that were afore us: but whatsoever we be, in that seed we be accursed. It is true that Adam was created after the image of God: but yet was that image defaced by sin, so as we be not worthy too be counted among Gods works. And the same horrible condemnation is pronounced with his own mouth,1 where he sayeth, that it repenteth him that he had made man, as though he disclaimed us all, because we do but infect the earth, and are not so worthy too be mustered in the array of his creatures, as are the worms, lice, fleas, dogflyes, and all other vermin of the world. That then is the benefit which we have by Adam: and as oft as it is said, that we be of his seed and of his flesh, it serveth too show us, that there is nothing in us but a gulf of cursedness. Now hereupon, if we come too our Lord Jesus Christ, we be restored again,2 and (as the Scripture speaketh of it,) we be made new creatures in him. Ye see then, that it is by power of the spirit, and not by order of nature, nor by any common fashion, that we be of the bone and of the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the cause why we be members of his body, is that God his father hath ordained and stablished him as our head. Howbeit (as I said afore) that is done by a secret power, which we comprehend not but by faith. Then do both these things agree very well: namely, that Jesus Christ is of our bone and of our flesh, in respect that he hath taken our humane nature upon him, and clothed himself with it, without the which we should have no alliance with him. For if we cannot attain too the Angels: how shall we attain too him that is the sovereign head of them? But whereas he is come in such wise unto us, that he hath vouchsafed to be knit in the bond of brotherhood with us:
And Saint Paule (as wee shall see heerafter) hath an eye too the originall of Eue: for shee was taken out of Adams substance, and shaped of one of his ribbes. Now then, are wee restored by our Lord Iesus Christ? If wee consider our first birth wherby wee bee brought intoo this world too bee mortall men: wee cannot say, such is our flesh, vnlesse wee bee of the seede of them that were afore vs: but whatsoeuer wee bee, in that seede wee bee accursed. It is trew that Adam was created after the image of God: but yit was that image defaced by sin, so as wee bee not worthie too bee counted among Gods woorkes. And the same horrible condemnation is pronounced wyth his owne mouth,1 where he sayeth, that it repenteth him that hee had made man, as though he disclaymed vs all, bycause wee doo but infect the earth, and are not so woorthy too bee mustered in the aray of hys creatures, as are the woormes, lyce, fleas, dogflyes, and all other vermin of the world. That then is the benefyte which wee haue by Adam: and as oft as it is sayd, that wee be of his seede and of his fleshe, it serueth too shew vs, that there is nothing in vs but a gulf of cursednesse. Now hereuppon, if wee come too our Lord Iesus Christ, wee bee restored agein,2 and (as the Scripture speaketh of it,) wee bee made new creatures in him. Yee see then, that it is by power of the spirit, and not by order of nature, nor by any common fashyon, that wee bee of the bone and of the fleshe of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the cause why wee bee members of his body, is that God his father hath ordeyned and stablished him as our head. Howbeeit (as I sayd afore) that is doone by a secret power, which wee comprehend not but by fayth. Then do both these things agree very well: namely, that Iesus Christ is of our bone and of our fleshe, in respect that he hath taken our humane nature vpon him, and clothed himself with it, without the which wee should haue no alyance with him. For if wee cannot atteyne too the Angels: how shall wee atteyne too him that is the souerein head of them? But wheras he is come in such wyze vntoo vs, that he hath voutsafed to bee knit in the bond of brotherhood with vs:
- 1Gene. 6. b. 6.
- 2•. Cor. 5. •. 17.
