The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Or any such other as declare unto us the mercies of God. The nature of the Law, and of the Gospel. The Law Showeth us our sin. Showeth us our condemnation. Is the word of ire. Is the word of despair. Is the word of displeasure. The Gospel Showeth us a remedy for it. Showeth us our Redemption. Is the Word of Grace. Is the Word of Comfort. Is the Word of Peace. A Disputation betwixt the Law and the Gospel. The Law saith, Pay thy Debt. Thou art a desperate sinner. Thou shalt die. The Gospel saith, Christ hath paid it. Thy sins are forgiven thee. Be of good comfort, thou art saved. The Law saith, Make amends for thy sin. The Father of heaven is wrath with thee. Where is thy righteousness, goodness and satisfaction? Thou art bound and obliged unto me, the devil and hell. The Gospel saith, Christ hath made it for thee. Christ hath pacified him with his Blood. Christ is thy righteousness, goodness, & satisfaction. Christ hath delivered thee from them all. Of Faith. Faith is to believe God, like as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. He that believed God, believed his Word. To believe in him,¹ is to believe his Word, and account it true that he speaketh: ⟨p. 9⟩he that believeth not Gods Word, he counteth him false, and a liar, and believeth not that he may and will fulfil his Word, and so he denieth both the might of God, and himself. Faith is the gift of God: Every good thing is the gift of God.² Faith is good; Ergo, Faith is the gift of God; The gift of God is not in our power: Faith is the gift of God, Ergo, Faith is not in our power. Without faith it is impossible to please God; all that cometh not of faith,³ is sin; for without faith, can no man please God. Besides that, he that lacketh faith, he trusteth not God; he that trusteth not God, trusteth not in his Word; he that trusteth not in his Word, holdeth him false, and a liar; he that holdeth him false and a liar, he believeth not that he may do that he promiseth, and so denieth he that he is God: O how can a man, being of this fashion, please God! No manner of ways, yea suppose he did all the works of man and Angel. All that is done in faith, pleaseth God. Right is the Word of God, and all his works in faith: Lord thine eyes look to faith; that is as much to say, as, Lord thou delightest in faith: God loveth him that believeth in him, how can they then displease him?