Now he showeth us how that may be done, saying in Righteousness and holiness. By the word Righteousness, he meaneth soundness and uprightness, so as we live with our neighbours without deceit, & without malice or harm doing, yielding too every man that which is his. Now when such a soundness reigneth in us, then shall we show by our deeds that we be fashioned again after Gods image in righteousness. But it is not enough that men have their right, except God also have his. For too what purpose is it for us too be no thieves (towards men,) and yet to be traitorous towards God? or to abstain from stealing away our neighbours goods, and in the mean while to rob God of his honour? Therefore must righteousness be matched with holiness. For the two tables of the law are inseparable. And under the word Holiness, S. Paul comprehendeth all things that belong too the serving of God. The newness of our life therefore, is this: namely too walk purely before God, too eschew all corruption and uncleanness, too separate our selves from all the defilements ⟨p. 213⟩of the world, and too offer our selves in sacrifice unto God: and (on the other side) too walk soundly and uprightly with our neighbours. The performance of these two things is all that is requisite to the perfection of a Christian life. Now it is certain that Gods law hath not taught us by halves, what we have too do, but God hath there showed us a right rule, whereunto there may be nothing added, nor aught taken from it. For in those two points is all our righteousness contained: namely that God be honoured in all fear and reverence at our hands, and that we serve one another without doing any harm. Again, forasmuch as men are inclined pitiously too feigning, and do ever think it enough to set some fair countenance upon the matter: therefore doth S. Paul add Truth. As if he said, that we may be taken for the holyest folk in the world, and yet nevertheless be condemned before God, if we be not cleansed from all hypocrisy, so as God may be our witness and judge, that we be not double minded, nor have any bumbasting in us, but that we go on in right meaning simplicity before him. So then, although our hands be clear from theft, extortion, & all other things that are against charity, if we have lusts lurking within us, surely we shall be still unclean before God.
Now he sheweth vs how that may bee doone, saying in Ryghtuousnesse and holinesse. By the woorde Rightuousnesse, he meaneth soundnesse and vprightnesse, so as we liue with our neyghbours without deceyt, & without malice or harme dooing, yeelding too euery man that which is his. Now when such a soundnesse reigneth in vs, thē shal wee shew by our deedes that we be fashioned agein after Gods image in ryghtuousnesse. But it is not ynough that men haue their ryght, except God also haue his. For too what purpose is it for vs too bee no theeues (towardes men,) and yit to be traytrous towardes God? or to absteyne from stealing away our neighbours goods, and in the meane whyle to rob God of his honor? Therfore must ryghtuousnesse be matched with holynesse. For the twoo tables of the lawe are inseparable. And vnder the woord Holynesse, S. Paule comprehendeth all things that belong too the seruing of God. The newnesse of our lyfe therfore, is this: namely too walke purely before God, too eschew all corruption and vncleannesse, too separate our selues from all the defylementes ⟨p. 213⟩of the world, and too offer our selues in sacrifyzce vntoo God: and (on the other syde) too walke soundly and vprightly with our neighbours. The performance of these two things is all that is requisite to the perfection of a Christian life. Now it is certein that Gods lawe hath not taught vs by halues, what wee haue too do, but God hath there shewed vs a right rule, wherunto there may bee nothing added, nor aught taken from it. For in those two poynts is all our rightuousnesse conteyned: namely that God bee honored in all feare and reuerence at our handes, and that we serue one another without doyng any harme. Agein, forasmuch as men are inclyned pitiously too feyning, and do euer thinke it ynough to set some faire countenance vpon the matter: therfore dooth S. Paule adde Truth. As if he sayd, that wee may be takē for the holyest folk in the world, and yit neuerthelesse be condemued before God, if we be not clenzed from all hypocrisie, so as God may bee our witnesse and iudge, that wee bee not dubble mynded, nor haue any bumbasting in vs, but that we go on in right meaning simplicitie before him. So then, although our hands be cleere from theft, extortion, & all other things that are ageinst charitie, if we haue lusts lurking within vs, surely we shal bee still vncleane before God.
