Therefore according to this sort 1of Divinity the merits of Christ do nothing else in Heaven, but that they obtain unto us Divine Grace, whereby we may by way of imitation more easily resemble the most holy footsteps, and similitude of Christ our second Father, and lead our lives well in this World according to his Laws. But now what if we cannot exactly follow the footsteps of his holiness? What if imitation falter sometimes and stagger? What if the fervency of charity, and the care of our most holy Religion, and the observance of Justice becomes too remiss? Yea, what if somewhere a defilement of sin creeps in, as infirmity may occasion? Or, what if, that I may use the words of Hierom, he that rows a Boat against the stream, slacken his hands a little, doth he not presently slide back, and is carried by the stream whither he would not? and who is not remiss sometimes? Seeing Paul also confesses that he is sometimes drawn thither whither he would not: And then where is the righteousness which was hoped for by Works? where is the immortality proposed to virtue? Verily unless the greater mercy of our most gracious Father, had so taken care for us, that our whole Salvation should be laid up in the righteousness of his Son, and if faith and imputation did not help us more than imitation of life, our condition had stood on a miserable enough, and too broken foundation. But ⟨p. 133⟩eternal thanks be to Almighty God the Father of all mercies, who, according to his unspeakable Wisdom, which reaches from end to end strongly, and disposes all things sweetly, hath not settled our estate by any law of works, but by faith, that according to Grace the Promise may be sure to all the Seed, that though we our selves are weak, and void of all righteousness, yet it is sufficient, that there is one in our Nature which hath fulfilled all righteousness, and that he only is righteous for all. How, say you, for all? Why not, as well as the unrighteousness of one Adam of old was sufficient to bring ruin upon all? Therefore let us behold Christ in Adam, and compare the one with the other. Who, though they are very unlike to one another, yet agree in this, that both being First Fathers of Propagation, by an equal similitude something came from both as Progenitors, which hath spread abroad upon all Men. To wit, Death and Life; Sin, and justice. Therefore one 2Man destroyed all Men:
Therefore according to this sort 1of Divinity the merits of Christ do nothing else in Heaven, but that they obtain unto us Divine Grace, whereby we may by way of imitation more easily resemble the most holy footsteps, and similitude of Christ our second Father, and lead our lives well in this World according to his Laws. But now what if we cannot exactly follow the footsteps of his holiness? What if imitation falter sometimes and stagger? What if the servency of charity, and the care of our most holy Religion, and the observance of Iustice becomes too remiss? Yea, what if somewhere a defilement of sin creeps in, as infirmity may occasion? Or, what if, that I may use the words of Hierom, he that rows a Boat against the stream, slacken his hands a little, doth he not presently slide back, and is carried by the stream whither he would not? and who is not remiss sometimes? Seeing Paul also confesses that he is sometimes drawn thither whither he would not: And then where is the righteousness which was hoped for by Works? where is the immortality proposed to vertue? Verily unless the greater mercy of our most gracious Father, had so taken care for us, that our whole Salvation should be laid up in the righteousness of his Son, and if faith and imputation did not help us more than imitation of life, our condition had stood on a miserable enough, and too broken foundation. But ⟨p. 133⟩eternal thanks be to Almighty God the Father of all mercies, who, according to his unspeakable Wisdom, which reaches from end to end strongly, and disposes all things sweetly, hath not settled our estate by any law of works, but by faith, that according to Grace the Promise may be sure to all the Seed, that though we our selves are weak, and void of all righteousness, yet it is sufficient, that there is one in our Nature which hath fulfilled all righteousness, and that he only is righteous for all. How, say you, for all? Why not, as well as the unrighteousness of one Adam of old was sufficient to bring ruine upon all? Therefore let us behold Christ in Adam, and compare the one with the other. Who, though they are very unlike to one another, yet agree in this, that both being First Fathers of Propagation, by an equal similitude something came from both as Progenitors, which hath spread abroad upon all Men. To wit, Death and Life; Sin, and justice. Therefore one 2Man destroyed all Men:
- 1The whole nature of our Salvation consists in nothing else but in the imitation of Christ, and expressing a resemblance of him according to Osorius.
- 2In what respect the similitude of Christ and Adam agrees.
