The Papists have found out many salvations, they have found out a salvation by Saints, a salvation by Angels, a salvation by Masses, a salvation by merits, a salvation by Idols, as though Christ had least to do in his own office, for they have other salvations to fly unto. They will have it, but they will buy it, and what will they give for it? why they will fast so many days, go so far on pilgrimages, hire priests to say so many Masses, build so many Abbeys, and give so many sums of money to the Monks and Friars. Therefore this scripture goeth against them, & doth dishonour their shamelessness, who like Nimrod heaping stone upon stone, 1would have built up to heaven: so they heap sin upon sin, and every hour ⟨image 21⟩some one heresy or superstition groweth up from this filthy root, for what Papist dare say that Simeon thought on any of these or put confidence in any other Saviour but only in him whom he embraced in his arms? for salvation is by the promise of God, and all promises are in Christ. And though Jacob 2wanted bread, Joseph wanted not money, 3therefore he gave them back again their money, & likewise he gave them that corn that they would have bought with it: so I would wish them to say as Josephs brethren, that they have their corn for nothing, and had their money too, so let them be content to say, that they have mercy for nothing & their works too. For god careth not for their works, because they profit not him but them selves. For there is no water can wash Naaman 4but Jordan, no water can wash the leprosy of sin, but the blood of the Lamb. By this the Israelites were saved when the 5destroyer passed by. By this the Lord knoweth us to be his people, and by this the devil knoweth us to be none of his. As it is proper unto God to be called goodness, so is it proper unto Jesus Christ to be called salvation He is called the way, the truth and 6the life, for that life which we have is but a spark and shadow of life, but he is the true ⟨p. 35⟩and eternal life. Then seeing Christ is both our righteousness, salvation, and also the way, the truth and the life, to lead us thereunto. It is as possible for us without Christ to be righteous or saved, as it is to be wise without wisdom, righteous without righteousness, or saved without salvation.
The Papists haue found out many saluations, they haue found out a saluation by Saints, a saluation by Angels, a saluation by Masses, a saluation by merits, a saluation by Idols, as though Christ had least to do in his owne office, for they haue other saluations to flie vnto. They will haue it, but they wil buy it, and what will they giue for it? whie they will fast so many dayes, go so farre on pilgrimages, hire priestes to say so manie Masses, build so manie Abbeys, and giue so many summes of money to the Monks and Friers. Therfore this scripture goeth against them, & doth dishonor their shamelesnesse, who like Nemrod heaping stone vpō stone, 1would haue built vp to heauen: so they heape sinne vpon sinne, and euerie houre ⟨image 21⟩some one heresie or superstition groweth vp from this filthie roote, for what Papist dare say that Simeon thought on any of these or put confidence in anie other Sauiour but only in him whō he embraced in his armes? for saluation is by the promise of God, and all promises are in Christ. And though Iacob 2wanted bread, Ioseph wanted not mony, 3therefore he gaue them backe againe their money, & likewise he gaue them that corne that they would haue bought with it: so I would wish them to say as Iosephs brethrē, that they haue their corne for nothing, and had their money too, so let them be content to say, that they haue mercie for nothing & their works too. For god careth not for their workes, because they profit not him but thē selues. For there is no water can wash Naaman 4but Iordan, no water can wash the leprosie of sinne, but the bloud of the Lambe. By this the Israelites were saued when the 5destroyer passed by. By this the Lord knoweth vs to be his people, and by this the deuill knoweth vs to be none of his. As it is proper vnto God to be called goodnesse, so is it proper vnto Iesus Christ to be called saluation He is called the way, the truth and 6the life, for that life which we haue is but a sparke and shadow of life, but he is the true ⟨p. 35⟩and eternall life. Then seeing Christ is both our righteousnesse, saluation, and also the way, the truth and the life, to leade vs thereunto. It is as possible for vs without Christ to be righteous or saued, as it is to be wise without wisedome, righteous without righteousnesse, or saued without saluatiō.
- 1Gen. 11.
- 22. Cor. 1.
- 3Gen. 42.
- 42. Kings 5.
- 5Exod. 12.
- 6John 14.Iohn 14.
