I Have declared already that we cannot be beloved of God, but by the means of his only son. For if the Angels of heaven be not worthy too be taken for Gods children, but by the means of a head and mediator: what shall become of us that cease not too provoke Gods wrath daily by our wicked doings, as folk that do in deed fight against him? God then must be fain too look upon us in the person of his only son, or else he must needs hate us and abhor us.1 Too be short, our sins do set God and us so far at odds, that we cannot so soon come towards him, but by and by we feel his majesty utterly against us, and as it were armed too put us too utter confusion. But now remaineth too see, how God receiveth us into his favour by means of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is the thing which Saint Paul meaneth in adding, that in him we have redemption through his blood, that is too wit, forgiveness of our sins, according too the riches of Gods grace Here we be first of all done too understand, that the enmity which God beareth us, is not in respect of our nature, but in respect of our corruption. I say, it is not in respect of nature: for as in respect that God hath creased us, it is certain that he cannot hate us. But inasmuch as mankind is utterly marred and given over too all naughtiness, God must needs be as a mortal enemy too us, and as an adversary against us, till the remembrance of our sins be buried out of his sight. For we be subject too everlasting death, till we be restored again: by reason whereof, God being the fountain of all justice and righteousness, doth utterly hate and abhor the evil that he seeth in us. Therefore until such time as our sins be blotted out, it is unpossible for us too hope that God should either favour or love us. But let us mark here how S. Paul useth two words, too express how we be reconciled too God: First, he setteth down the Ransom or Redemption, which is all ⟨p. 23⟩[…]: and afterward the forgiveness of sins. Howe cometh it ••en too pass that Gods wrath is pacified, that we be made at one •ith him, yea and that he accepteth and avoweth us for his children? •t is by the pardoning of our fumes, sayeth S. Paul. And furthermore, because redemption is requisite thereunto: he matcheth that •ith it also.
I Haue declared alredie that wee cannot bee beloued of God, but by the meanes of his onely sonne. For if the Angells of heauen bee not woorthy too bee taken for Gods children, but by the meanes of a head and mediator: what shall become of vs that ceasse not too prouoke Gods wrath dayly by our wicked dooynges, as folke that doo in deede fyght ageinst him? God then must bee fayne too looke vppon vs in the person of his onely sonne, or else he must needes hate vs and abhorre vs.1 Too bee short, our sinnes doo set God and vs so farre at oddes, that wee cannot so soone come towardes him, but by and by wee feele his maiestie vtterly ageinst vs, and as it were armed too put vs too vtter confuzion. But now remayneth too see, how God receyueth vs intoo his fauour by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. That is the thing which Saint Paule meaneth in adding, that in him vvee haue redemption through his blud, that is too vvit, forgiuenesse of our sinnes, according too the riches of Gods grace Heere wee bee first of all doone too vnderstand, that the enmitie which God beareth vs, is not in respect of our nature, but in respect of our corruption. I say, it is not in respect of nature: for as in respect that God hath creased vs, it is certeine that he cannot hate vs. But inasmuch as mankynd is vtterly marred and gyuen ouer too all naughtiness•, God must needes bee as a mortall enemie too vs, and as an aduersarie ageinst vs, till the rememberance of our sinnes bee buryed out of his sight. For wee bee subiect too euerlasting death, till wee bee restored agein: by reason whereof, God being the fountaine of all iustice and right•ousnesse, dooth vtte•ly hate and abhorre the euill that he seeth in vs. Therefore vntill such tyme as our sinnes bee blotted out, it is vnpossible for vs too hope that God should eyther fauour or loue vs. But let vs marke heere how S. Paule vseth twoo woordes, too expresse how wee bee reconcyled too God: First, he setteth downe the Raunsom or Redemption, which is all ⟨p. 23⟩〈…〉: and afterward the forgiuenesse of sinnes. Howe commeth it ••en too passe that Gods wrath is pacifyed, that wee bee made at one •ith him, yea and that he accepteth and au•weth vs for his children? •t is by the pardoning of our •umes, sayeth S. Paule. And further•ore, bycause redemption is requisite thereuntoo: he matcheth that ith it also.
- 1•sai. 59. •. 2.
