Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…

but he did mean that Christen men might keep the law & fulfil the law, if they would, because they were not under the law, but under Christ, by whom they were divided from the tyranny of the law, and above the law, that is to say, able to fulfil the law to the pleasure of him that made the law, which they could never do of their own strength, and without Christ: so that to be under the law, after Saint Pauls meaning, is to be weak to satisfy the law: and what could saint Paul do withal, though his adversaries would not so take it? But my Lord would say peradventure that men will not take the preachers words otherwise then they mean therein, bona verba, as though S. Pauls words were not otherwise taken, as it appeareth in the third chapter to the Romans, where hee sayth, quod iniustitia nostra dei justitiam commendat, that is to say, our unrighteousness commendeth and maketh more excellent the righteousness of God, which soundeth to many as though they should be evil, that good should come of it, and by unrighteousness, to make the righteousness of God more excellent. So saint Paul was reported to mean: yet he did mean nothing so, but showed the inestimable wisdom of God, which can use our naughtiness to the manifestation of his unspeakable goodness: not that we should do naughtily to that end and purpose. Now my Lord will not think (I dare say) that S. Paul was to blame that he spake no more circumspectly, more warily, or more plainly, to avoid evil offence of the people: but rather he will blame the people, for that they took no better heed, and attendance to Pauls speaking, to the understanding of the same: yea, he will rather pity the people, which had been so long nuzzled in the doctrine of the Pharisees, and wallowed so long in darkness of mans traditions, superstitions, and trade of living, that they were unapt to receive the bright lightness of the truth, and wholesome doctrine of God, uttered by Saint Paul. Nor I think not that my Lord will require more circumspection, or more convenience to avoid offence of errors ⟨p. 1747⟩in me, then was in saint Paul when he did not escape malevolous corrections, & slanderous reports of them that were of perverse judgements, which reported him to say, what soever he appeared to them to say, or what so ever seemed to them to follow of his saying:

but hee did meane that Christen men might keepe the law & fulfill the lawe, if they woulde, because they were not vnder the law, but vnder Christ, by whome they were deuided from the tyranny of the law, and aboue the law, that is to saye, able to fulfill the lawe to the pleasure of him that made the law, which they could neuer do of their own strength, and without Christ: so that to be vnder the law, after Saynct Paules meaning, is to be weake to satisfie the lawe: and what could saynt Paule doe withall, though his aduersaries would not so take it? But my Lord would say peraduenture that men will not take the preachers woordes otherwise then they meane therein, bona verba, as though S. Paules woordes were not otherwise taken, as it appeareth in the thyrd chapiter to the Romaynes, where hee sayth, quod iniustitia nostra dei iustitiam commendat, that is to say, our vnrighteousnes commēdeth and maketh more excellent the righteousnes of God, which soundeth to many as though they should be euill, that good shoulde come of it, and by vnrighteousnes, to make the righteousnes of God more excellent. So saynct Paule was reported to meane: yet he did meane nothing so, but shewed the inestimable wisedome of God, which can vse our naughtines to the manifestation of his vnspeakable goodnes: not that we shuld do noughtily to that end and purpose. Now my Lord will not thinke (I dare saye) that S. Paule was to blame that he spake no more circumspectly, more warely, or more playnely, to auoyd euill offense of the people: but rather he will blame the people, for that they took no better heede, and attendaunce to Paules speaking, to the vnderstanding of the same: yea, he will rather pitty the people, whiche had bene so long nozeled in the doctrine of the Phariseis, and wallowed so long in darcknes of mans traditions, superstitions, and trade of liuinge, that they were vnapt ts receaue the bright lightnes of the truthe, and wholsome doctrine of God, vttered by Saynt Paule. Nor I thinke not that my Lord wil require more circumspection, or more conuenience to auoyd offense of errours