But he doth therefore make afraid, that there might be place for consolation and vivification. For careless hearts, and which feel not the wrath of god, regard not consolation. After this sort the scripture is wont to join these two things together, I mean, fear and con fort, that it might teach us, that these be the principal members in repentance, contrition I say, and faith, which comforteth and justifieth. Neither see we how the nature of repentance can be more purely taught. For these be the two principal works of god in men: to make afraid, & to justify & quicken ⟨image 111⟩the afraid consciences. In to these two works the hole scripture is distributed & divided. The one part is the law, which showeth, reproveth, and condemneth since. The other part is the gospel, that is to say, the promise of grace freely given in Christ. And this promise is often times repeated in the hole scripture, which was first given to Adam, afterward to the patriarchs, and after set forth by the prophets, and last of all it was preached and fulfilled by Christ among the Jews, and by the apostles spread and divulgate in to the hole world. For by the faith of this promise all holy men have been justified, not for their own attritions or contritions. And examples do show likewise these two parts.1 Adam is chydden after his sin, and made throughly afraid. This was contrition. Afterwards god promiseth grace, he saith,2 that there shall seed come, by which should be destroyed the kingdom of the devil, death, and sin. There he offereth remission of sin. These be the chief points. For all be it afterwards there is added punishment: yet this punishment doth not merit remission of since. And of these kinds of punishments we shall speak not long hereafter.3 So David is chydden of Nathan the prophet, and being throughly troubled and made afraid, he saith, I have sinned against the lord. This is the contrition. Afterwards he heareth absolution, wham the prophet saith unto him. The lord hath taken away thy sin▪ thou shalt not dye. This voice comforteth David, & beareth him up by faith, it justifieth and quickeneth him. Here is also added ⟨image 111⟩a punishment. But this punishment doth not deserve remission of since.
But he doth therfore make afrayde, that there myght be place for consolation and viuification. For careles hertes, and whiche feele not the wrathe of god, regarde not cōsolation. After this sorte the scripture is wōte to ioyne these two thynges together, I meane, feare and cō fort, that it myght teache vs, that these be the principall membres in repentaunce, cōtrition I say, and fayth, whiche conforteth and iustifiethe. Neyther see we howe the nature of repentaunce can be more purelye taughte. For these be the two principall workes of god in men: to make afrayde, & to iustifie & quicken ⟨image 111⟩the afrayde cōsciences. In to these two workes ye hole scripture is distributed & deuided. The one parte is the lawe, whiche sheweth, reproueth, and cōdempneth synnes. The other parte is the gospell, that is to say, the ꝓmyse of grace freely gyuen in Christe. And this ꝓmyse is often tymes repeted in the hole scripture, whiche was fyrste gyuen to Adam, afterwarde to the patriarkes, and after set forth by the prophetes, and last of all it was preached and fulfylled by Christe amonge the Iewes, and by the apostles spredde and diuulgate in to the hole worlde. For by the faythe of this promyse all holy men haue bene iustified, not for theyr owne attritions or contritions. And examples do shewe lykewyse these two partes.1 Adam is chydden after his synne, and made throughly afrayde. This was contrition. Afterwardes god promysethe grace, he saythe,2 that there shall seede come, by whiche shulde be destroyed the kyngdome of the deuyll, deathe, and synne. There he offerethe remissiō of synne. These be ye chiefe poyntes. For al be it afterwardes there is added punyshement: yet this punyshement doth not merite remission of synnes. And of these kyndꝭ of punyshementes we shall speake not longe hereafter.3 So Dauid is chydden of Nathan the prophete, and beinge throughly troubled and made afrayde, he saythe, I haue synned agaynst the lorde. This is the cōtrition. Afterwardꝭ he heareth absolution, whā the ꝓphete saythe vnto hym. The lorde hath taken away thy synne▪ thou shalte not dye. This voyce conforteth Dauid, & beareth hym vp by fayth, it iustifieth and quickeneth hym. Here is also added ⟨image 111⟩a punyshement. But this punyshement doth not deserue remission of synnes.
- 1Examples. Adam.
- 2Gene. 3.
- 32. Reg.
