Finally, concerning vows whereof thou readest in the xxx. Chapter, there may be many questions, whereunto 1I answer shortly, that we ought to put salt to all our offerings: that is, we ought to minister knowledge in all our works, and to do nothing whereof we could not give a reason out of Gods words. We be now in the day light, and all the secretes of God, and all his counsel and will, is opened unto us, and he that was promised should come and bless us, is come already, and hath shed his blood for us and hath blessed us with all manner blessings, and hath obtained all grace for us, and in him we have all. Wherefore God henceforth will receive 2no more sacrifices of beasts of us as thou readest. Hebr. 10. If thou burn unto god the blood or fat of beasts, to obtain forgiveness of sins thereby, or that God should the better hear thy request, then thou doest wrong unto the blood of Christ, and Christ unto thee is dead in vain. For in him God hath promised not forgiveness of sins only, but also what soever we ask to keep us from sin and temptation with all. And what if thou burn frankincense unto him, what if thou burn 3a candle, what if thou burn thy chastity, or virginity unto him for the same purpose, doest thou not like rebuke unto Christs blood? Moreover, if thou offer gold, silver, or any other good for the same intent, is there any difference? And even so if thou go in pilgrimage, or fastest, or goest woolward, or sprinklest thy self with holy water, or else what soever deed it is, or observest what soever ceremony it be, for like meaning, then it is like abomination. We must therefore bring the salt of the knowledge of Gods word, with all our sacrifices, or else we shall make no sweet savour unto God thereof. Thou wilt ask me, shall I vow nothing at all? yes, Gods commandment, which thou hast vowed in thy Baptism. For what intent? verily for the love of Christ, which hath bought thee with his blood, and made the son & heir of God with him, that thou shouldest wait on his will and commandments, and purify thy members according to the same doctrine that hath purified thine heart, for if the knowledge of Gods word hath not purified thine hart, so that thou consentest unto the law of god that it is righteous and good, & sorrowest, that thy members move thee unto the contrary, so hast thou no part with Christ.
Finally, concernyng vowes wherof thou readest in the xxx. Chapter, there may be many questions, whereunto 1I aūswere shortly, that we ought to put salt to all our offerynges: that is, we ought to minister knowledge in all our workes, and to doe nothyng whereof we could not geue a reason out of Gods wordes. We be now in the day light, and all the secretes of God, and all hys counsell and wil, is opened vnto vs, and he that was promised should come and blesse vs, is come alredy, and hath shed hys bloud for vs and hath blessed vs with al maner blessinges, and hathe obtayned all grace for vs, and in hym we haue all. Wherfore God henceforth wil receiue 2no more sacrifices of beastes of vs as thou readest. Hebr. 10. If thou burne vnto god the bloud or fatte of beastes, to obtaine forgeuenesse of sinnes therby, or that God should the better heare thy request, then thou doest wrong vnto the bloud of Christ, and Christ vnto thee is dead in vayne. For in him God hath promised not forgeuenesse of sins onely, but also what soeuer we aske to keepe vs from sinne and temptation with all. And what if thou burne frankencens vnto him, what if thou burne 3a candle, what if thou burne thy chastitie, or virginitie vnto him for the same purpose, doest thou not lyke rebuke vnto Christs bloud? Moreouer, if thou offer gold, siluer, or any other good for the same entēt, is there any difference? And euen so if thou go in pilgrimage, or fastest, or goest wolward, or sprynelest thy selfe with holy water, or elles what soeuer dede it is, or obseruest what soeuer ceremonie it be, for lyke meanyng, then it is lyke abhominatiō. We must therfore bryng the salt of the knowledge of Gods word, with al our sacrifices, or elles we shall make no swete sauour vnto God therof. Thou wilt aske me, shall I vow nothyng at all? yes, Gods commaundemēt, which thou hast vowed in thy Baptisme. For what entent? verelye for the loue of Christe, which hath bought thee with his bloud, and made the sonne & heyre of God with him, that thou shouldest wayte on hys will and commaundementes, and purifie thy members accordyng to the same doctrine that hath purified thyne harte, for if the knowledge of Gods word hath not purified thine hart, so yt thou consentest vnto the law of god yt it is righteous and good, & sorowest, yt thy members moue thee vnto the contrary, so hast thou no part with Christ.
- 1Of vowsOf vowes
- 2God accepteth for us none other sacrifice, but only Jesus christ his sonne.God accepteth for vs none other sacrifice, but onely Iesu christ his sonne.
- 3[…] holiness in our own imagination is a robbing of christs honour.〈…〉 holines in our own imaginatiō is a robbing of christes honor.
