For take me the scion of a tree, and cut me of the head, or some bough of another tree, and grief me that little scion into it, that was taken from another, and ye see they grow both into one, so as they become both one substance, and the root yieldeth his sap too the little sprig that was taken from another tree. Even after the same manner are we grafted into our Lord Jesus Christ (sayeth S. Paul) and that is too the end that our old man should be crucified in him, and we be raised up again in newness of life. But ⟨image 196⟩here we have first too mark, how gracious and bountiful God hath and still doth show himself towards us, in that it pleaseth him too unite us too his own son: for that passeth all the benefits which we can conceive in our imagination. And therefore also doth S. Paul prove, that all things which God hath, do belong unto us,1 and that we have the enjoying of them, when we once possess his Sonne. Seeing (sayeth he) that God hath not spared his own Son, how should he not give us all things with him. Too be short, God could not have uttered the infinite treasures better, than by joining us after that manner to his only Sonne. It is more than if he had given us heaven and earth: For surely if we compare Jesus Christ with all the goods of the world, yea and all the goods that are above the earthly world: he far surmounteth them all. Mark that for one point. Furthermore let us understand that God hath so united us to our Lord Jesus Christ, as we must be fain to have all our life in him. And it serveth to humble us the better, and to make us perceive how horrible a thing it is to be wrapped in the cursedness of Adam. For if the holy Scripture told us not that we must be united to our Lord Jesus Christ, before we can be in Gods favour: we should not feel sufficiently the wretchedness wherein we be held by nature, neither should we hate our sins so much as we ought to do. But now that it is told us how it is impossible, (yea though all the Angels should come to our aid, & that all the world should help forward the matter): and too be short, that although nothing wanted yet it were impossible for us to come near unto God, or that he should look upon us with a fatherly countenance, yea or that he should acknowledge us for his creatures, till we be clothed with our Lord Jesus Christ:
For take mee the syen of a tree, and cut mee of the head, or some bough of another tree, and greffe mee that little syen into it, that was taken from another, and yee see they growe bothe into one, so as they become bothe one substance, and the roote yeeldeth his sap too the little sprig that was taken from another tree. Euen after the same maner are wee greffed intoo our Lord Iesus Christe (sayeth S. Paule) and that is too the end that our old man should be crucified in him, and we be raysed vp againe in newnesse of life. But ⟨image 196⟩heere wee haue first too marke, howe gratious and bountifull God hath and still doth shew himselfe towardes vs, in that it pleaseth him too vnite vs too his owne sonne: for that passeth all the benefites whiche wee can conceyue in our imaginacion. And therefore also doth S. Paule proue, that all things which God hath, do belong vnto vs,1 and that we haue the inioying of them, whē we once possesse his Sonne. Seing (sayeth hee) that God hath not spared his owne Sonne, how should he not giue vs all things with him. Too be short, God coulde not haue vttered the infinite treasures better, than by ioyning vs after that maner to his only Sonne. It is more than if he had giuen vs heauen and earth: For surely if wee compare Iesus Christ with all the goodes of the worlde, yea and all the goodes that are aboue the earthly world: he farre surmounteth them all. Marke that for one poynt. Furthermore let vs vnderstand that God hath so vnited vs to our Lord Iesus Christ, as wee must be fayne to haue all our lyfe in him. And it serueth to humble vs the better, and to make vs perceyue how horrible a thing it is to bee wrapped in the cursednesse of Adam. For if the holy Scripture told vs not that wee muste be vnited to our Lord Iesus Christ, before wee can bee in Gods fauour: wee should not feele sufficiently the wretchednesse wherein we be hild by nature, nother should wee hate our sinnes so much as we ought to do. But now that it is tolde vs how it is impossible, (yea though all the Angels should come to our ayde, & that all the world shoulde helpe forward the matter): and too bee short, that although nothing wanted yet it were impossible for vs to come neere vntoo God, or that he should looke vpō vs with a fatherly coūtenance, yea or that he should acknowledge vs for his creatures, til we be clothed with our Lord Iesus Christ:
- 1Rom. 8. f. 31.
