A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith

But how can this be done, if first we¹ be not naturally apt and inclined to do this? For experience teacheth that our nature is clean contrary to this. For all men of them selves or of their own will be inclined rather to hate God and their neighbour, contrary to love. Now if our own nature draweth us to hate, how can we pay the love which we do owe?

But howe can this be done, if fyrst we¹ be not naturally apte and enclyned to doo thys? For experyence teacheth that our nature is cleane contrary to this. For all men of them selues or of theyr owne wyll be enclyned rather to hate God and theyr neyghbor, contrary to loue. Nowe if our owne nature draweth vs to hate, howe can we paye the loue which we doo owe?

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Of this we may gather three conclusions,¹ that is to say, that all men of their own nature be haters of God being corrupted. Then it followeth that they cannot only pay that they do owe, but also they bind them selves daily more and more, and endebte them selves by new sins to the just judgement of God, from ⟨p. 185⟩whence it followeth necessarily, that either all men without exception must be condemned, or else find some one that will pay their debts.

Of this we maye gather thrée conclusions,¹ that is to saye, that all men of theyr owne nature be haters of God being corrupted. Then it foloweth that they cannot onely paye that they do owe, but also they bynde them selues daylye more and more, and endebte them selues by newe sinnes to the iust iudgemēt of God, from