A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith

But yet nevertheless we must join a¹ condition to this, that is to say, if we do take or join to us these remedies in Jesus Christ. For as it profiteth not a sick person to have a good medicine except be use it, nor a hungry man to be at a tables ⟨image 200⟩end garnished with plenty of good meats except he eat of them: likewise be there medies of Jesus Christ against the wrath of God and eternal death set before us in vain, except we use them. Now we cannot use them, except first we know by what manner, & after what sort it may be done. Wherefore first we must see how Jesus Christ is, & may be applied to our profit & advantage. Then to declare how Jesus² Christ may be applied to our salvation & eternal life, we will use this preface. As it is not in our power to find a medicine of salvation▪ so can we not find the manner how to use this medicine. For as in the sickness of the body, the sick person is past all hope of health & utterly despaired, then it is needful for the Physician not only to find and prepare the medicine, but also to dispose the sick person so as he will & may use this medicine, and y• he may understand how to use it: so the sickness of the soul, which is most precious above allthings, & in the which mankind is not only ignorant, but also enemies of their own salvation, then we must understand by the Physician of the soul what is the medicine, ⟨p. 186⟩then after what manner it must be used, yea & in such wise y• the same Physician do prepare & make us apt and meet y• we both will and can use those remedies which he prepareth and appointeth to us.

But yet neuertheles we must ioygne a¹ condition to this, that is to saye, if we doo take or ioyne to vs these remedies in Iesus Christ. For as it profiteth not a sicke person to haue a good medicine except bee vse it, nor a hungry man to be at a tables