These things be greatly to be noted, for it may justly be said, that y• ignorance of this distinction between the law and the Gospel, is one of the principal causes & roots of all the abuse, which hath corrupted, and yet doth corrupt the whole Christianity, because the most part of men blinded by the just judgement of God, have never well considered, into what malediction and curse the law hath brought us, neither for what purpose it was ordained of God. And concerning the gospel they have almost esteemed it to be no other thing, but an other law more perfect than the old, from whence immediately did spring this distinction between precept and counsel ⟨image 66⟩with the whole ruin of all the benefits of Jesus Christ. But we must consider these things more nearer. It is easy to gather of that which hath ben said in the former article, what is common both to the law and the Gospel, and what each hath properly belonging to it self. aThey have this in common: both be of one only very God, who remaineth continually like unto him self, so that we may not think that the one abolisheth the other, concerning the substance, but contrary, the one establisheth the substance of the other. As we shall say hereafter▪ bThey both do purpose and set forth to us one God only, and one righteousness in substance, cwherein consisteth the perfect love of GOD, and our neighbour. But behold where the difference lieth. The law is naturally in man, in whose heart God printed and engraved it from the creation. dFor those precepts which God did declare a long time after in the two tables of his law, was not to make a ⟨p. 51⟩new law, but only to quicken and revive the law natural, which by little and little was quenched and blotted out in the harts of men through the corruption of sin. eBut the gospel is a doctrine supernatural, y• which our nature could never attain, neither could allow without the special grace and gift of god, fwho revealed it unto Adam son after his fall, as Moses reciteth, gand after to the patriarchs and Prophets, from generation to generation as seemed good to him, huntil such time as he sent Jesus Christ his son personally, which declared i& fulfilled all that is contained in the gospel: and also declareth it unto this day, and will declare it until the end of the world by the preaching of the same word instituted in his Church.
THese things be greatly to be noted, for it may iustly be said, that y• ignorance of this distinction betwéene ye law and the Gospel, is one of the principal causes & rootes of al the abuse, which hath corrupted, and yet doth corrupt the whole Christianitie, bycause the moste parte of men blynded by the iust iudgement of God, haue neuer well considered, into what malediction and curse the lawe hath brought vs, neyther for what purpose it was ordayned of God. And concerning the gospel they haue almost estéemed it to be no other thing, but an other lawe more perfect than the olde, from whence immediatly did spring this distinction betwéene precepte and councell ⟨image 66⟩with ye whole ruine of al ye benefits of Iesus Christ. But we must consider these things more nerer. It is easy to gather of that whyche hathe ben sayde in the former article, what is common bothe to the law and the Gospell, and what eche hath properly belonging to it self. aThey haue this in common: bothe be of one onely very God, who remayneth continually like vnto him selfe, so that we may not thinke that the one abolisheth the other, concerninge the substaunce, but contrarye, the one establysheth the substaunce of the other. As we shall saye hereafter▪ bThey bothe doe purpose and sette foorth to vs one God onely, and one righteousnesse in substaunce, cwherein consisteth the perfyte loue of GOD, and oure neyghboure. But beholde where the dyfference lyeth. The lawe is naturally in man, in whose harte God prynted and engraued it from the creation. dFor those preceptes whiche God did declare a longe tyme after in the twoo tables of hys lawe, was not to make a ⟨p. 51⟩newe lawe, but onelye to quycken and reuiue the lawe naturall, whych by litle and litle was quenched and blotted out in the harts of men through the corruption of sinne. eBut the gospell is a doctrine supernatural, y• which our nature coulde neuer attayn, neither could allowe without ye special grace and gifte of god,
- aHebr. 1.
- bRom. 1•.
- cRoma. 3.
- dRoma. a. 1.
- eRoma. 7.
- f1. Cor. 1.
- gGene 3.
- hRoma. 1. Luke. 1.
- iJohn. 15.Iohn. 15.
