11. 12 He severally wipeth away all the reasons wherewith he laboureth to overcome this: and the objections wherewith he endeavoureth against the truth that we are not justified by free imputation,1 which the Apostle plainly affirmeth, his first objection is this, that Christ is made wisdom, which belongeth to none, but to the eternal word, Therefore Christ in that he is man, is not wisdom. But the answer is, that the only begotten Son of God was in deed his eternal wisdom, but the name is of Paul diversly given, because all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are laid up in him: that therefore which he had with his father,2 he disclosed unto us: and so that which Paul saith is not referred to the essence of the son of God, but to our use, & is rightly applied to Christ his nature of manhood,3 because although he shined a light in the darkness before that he ⟨image 152⟩did put on flesh, yet it was a hidden light, till the same Christ came forth in the nature of man the shining Sun of righteousness, which therefore calleth himself the light of the world. It is foolishly objected that the power of justifying is far above both Angels and men,4 forasmuch as this hangeth not upon the worthiness of any creature, but upon the ordinance of God, for Angels can prevail nothing to satisfy God that are not thereunto appointed, but that belongeth to Christ being man: & albeit Christ is called the author of life, in respect that he suffered death,5 to destroy him that had the power of death, yet the honour is not taken away from whole Christ, as he was openly showed God in the flesh; but a distinction only made how the righteousness of God is conveyed unto us, that we may enjoy it. Neither do we deny that, which is openly given us in Christ, to proceed from the secret grace and power of God;6 and the righteousness which Christ giveth, to be the righteousness of God, that proceedeth ⟨p. 145⟩from God: but we hold this, that we have righteousness and life in the death and resurrection of Christ: and we hold this also, that God worketh in us both to will and perform, and reformeth with his spirit unto holiness of life and righteousness: but he doth not this by himself, and immediately, but by the hand of his son, with whom he hath left all the fullness of his holy spirit, that with his abundant store he would supply the need of his members.
11. 12 Hée seuerally wipeth away al the reasons wherewith he laboureth to ouercome this: and the obiectiōs wherwith he endeuoureth against the truth that we are not iustified by frée imputation,1 which the Apostle plainly affirmeth, his first obiection is this, that Christ is made wisedom, which belongeth to none, but to the eternall worde, Therefore Christ in that he is man, is not wisedome. But the answere is, that the onely begotten Sonne of God was in déede his eternall wisdome, but the name is of Paul diuersly geuen, because all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge are laide vp in him: that therfore which he had with his father,2 hée disclosed vnto vs: and so that which Paul saith is not referred to the essence of the sonne of God, but to our vse, & is rightly applied to Christ his nature of manhood,3 because although he shined a light in the darkenesse before that he ⟨image 152⟩did put on fleshe, yet it was a hidden light, till the same Christ came foorth in the nature of man the shining Sun of righteousnesse, which therefore calleth himselfe the light of the worlde. It is foolishly obiected that the power of iustifiyng is farre aboue both Angels and men,4 forasmuch as this hangeth not vpon the worthinesse of any creature, but vpon the ordinance of God, for Angels can preuaile nothing to satisfie God that are not therevnto appointed, but that belongeth to Christ being man: & albeit Christ is called ye authour of life, in respect that he suffered death,5 to destroy him that had the power of death, yet the honour is not taken away from whole Christ, as hée was openly shewed God in the fleshe; but a distinction onely made how the righteousnesse of God is conueied vnto vs, that we may inioye it. Neither doe we denie that, which is openly geuen vs in Christ, to procéede from the secret grace and power of God;6 and the righteousnes which Christ geueth, to be the righteousnesse of God, that procéedeth ⟨p. 145⟩from God: but we hold this, that wée haue righteousnes and life in the death and resurrection of Christ: and we hold this also, that God worketh in vs both to will and perfourme, and refourmeth with his spirite vnto holynesse of life and righteousnesse: but he doth not this by himselfe, and immediately, but by the hande of his sonne, with whom hée hath left all the fulnesse of his holy spirite, that with his abundant store hée would supply the néed of his members.
- 11. Cor. 5.12 Rom. 4.7 Psalm. 32.1 Gal. 3.18 Exod. 21.9
- 2Col. 2.•
- 3John. 8.12Iohn. 8.12
- 4Gal. 13.3
- 5Heb. 2.14
- 6Phi. 2.15
