Understanding well the distinction of the two kinds of the word of God, that is to say, the law and the Gospel. It is easy to understand how the holy Ghost is served with them for an instrument of our salvation. ⟨image 69⟩For it is not to be doubted, but the holy Ghost doth join them to the use they were ordained. For as much then as we be all so blinded, whilst our corruption reigneth in us, that even we forget our own blindness and ignorance, aand cease not to quench out the small light of understanding which hath been left to us, to make us more inexcusable, bwe rejoice and please our selves in that which ought most to displease us. First, before all things it is requisite that the spirit of God who is all goodness, and full of all piety, do make us to understand perfectly the depth of the malediction and curse wherein we now stand, which he can not better do, than in setting before us the declaration of his law, what we ought to do, and also what we be. As the colour of black is never better set forth than when white is set by it, cso the spirit of God beginneth by the preaching of the law wherein we may see what we do owe, and what we be not ⟨p. 54⟩able to pay. And consequently how near we be to our condemnation, if there be no otherwise found some remedy. And also the inuinsible dullness which always hath reigned in the world, and reigneth yet more than ever it did, declareth sufficiently how necessary it is that God should begin at this end, to draw us to himself, that is to say, in declaring unto us, in how great and evident dangers those be which make least account of it. For the law was not given to justify us, (for if it were so the Gospel were not needful, and Jesus Christ dyed in vain, as saith Saint Paul) dbut to condemn us, and to show the Hells all open to swallow us. And also to abase and bring down our fierce and high pride, declaring to us the multitude of our since, and the wrath of God, which he declareth and pronounceth from Heaven against us. eNevertheless, the world is thus far blinded, that not only they search their ⟨image 70⟩salvation, in those things which condemn them. That is to say, in their works, either partly or all together.
VNderstandyng well the distinction of the two kyndes of the woorde of God, that is to saye, the lawe and the Gospell. It is easye to vnderstande howe the holy Ghost is serued with them for an instrumente of oure saluation. ⟨image 69⟩For it is not to be doubted, but the holy Ghoste doth ioyne them to the vse they were ordeyned. For as much then as we be al so blinded, whylest our corruption raygneth in vs, that euen we forgette oure owne blyndenesse and ignoraunce, aand cease not to quenche out the small lyght of vnderstanding which hath bene lefte to vs, to make vs more inexcusable, bwe reioyce and please our selues in that whyche ought most to displease vs. Fyrste, before all thyngs it is requisite that the spirite of God who is al goodnesse, and ful of all pietie, doe make vs to vnderstande perfectely the depthe of the malediction and curse wherein we nowe stande, whiche he can not better doe, than in setting before vs the declaration of his lawe, what we ought to doe, and also what we be. As the coloure of blacke is neuer better sette foorthe than when whyte is sette by it, cso the spirite of God beginneth by the preachyng of the lawe wherein wée maye sée what we doe owe, and what we be not ⟨p. 54⟩hable to pay. And consequently howe neare we be to our condemnation, if there be no otherwise founde some remedy. And also the inuinsible dulnesse whiche alwayes hath raygned in the world, and raygneth yet more than euer it did, declareth sufficiently howe necessarie it is that God shoulde beginne at this ende, to drawe vs to himselfe, that is to say, in declaring vnto vs, in howe great and euident daungers those be whiche make least accompt of it. For the lawe was not gyuen to iustifie vs, (for if it were so the Gospell were not needefull, and Iesus Chryste dyed in vaine, as saythe Sainte Paule) dbut to condemne vs, and to shewe the Hells al open to swallowe vs. And also to abase and bring downe oure fearce and hye pryde, declaring to vs the multytude of oure synnes, and the wrathe of God, which he declareth and pronoūceth from Heauen agaynste vs. eNeuerthelesse, the worlde is thus farre blynded, that not onely they searche theyr ⟨image 70⟩
- aJohn. 9. bIohn. 9. b
- bRoma. 1.
- cRoma. 3.
- dGala. 2. d
- eRoma. 1 • Gala. •.
