And because that we can not find this virtue in our selves, we must therefore take it of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, to the end that we may be throughly renewed and made new creatures. This grace, and this benefit of Jesus Christ, is called in the holy scripture Regeneration, because that we are regenerated and borne again as of new by him, not bodily, but spiritually. For we have already bodily life by our first nativity, the which we hold of the stock of Adam. Wherefore we have no need of a second nativity, the which we do call new birth, & regeneration in respect of this life, the which we have already, but in respect of the spiritual life, the which we receive of the stock of the new Adam, & of the new man, as the stippes ⟨image 32⟩and branches which are grafted into a good tree, and as the vine branches which receive their life and nurture of their stock. For that cause Jesus Christ is compared to the stock of the vine,1 and his disciples to the branches joined to the stock, and they which are not at all grafted nor joined together with him, are con pared to the branches that are cut off from the stock.2 And therefore that this benefit is represented and communicated unto us by Baptism, and how we do put off the old man and put on the new,3 Saint Paul sayeth, that by Baptism we are dead and buried with Jesus Christ, into his death, and risen again with him, and planted and grafted, and incorporated into him, and that all those which are baptized, have put on Jesus Christ. And thus much concerning the benefit of regeneration, and of baptism, which is the Sacrament and testimony thereof, whereby the Lord witnesseth unto us, how that he doeth renew and regenerate us in his son Jesus Christ, into a new life, and doth reform us to his image, by the virtue of his holy spirit, and doth adopt us by the spirit of adoption, and doth avow and receive us for his children into his house, which is his Church. For the which cause we are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost. Thus much concerning the nature and […]
And because that we can not finde this vertue in our selues, we must therefore take it of the death and resurrectiō of Iesus Christ, to the ende that we may be throughly renewed and made newe creatures. This grace, and this benefit of Iesus Christe, is called in the holy scripture Regeneration, because that we are regenerated and borne againe as of newe by him, not bodily, but spiritually. For we haue already bodily life by our first natiuitie, the which wee hold of ye stock of Adam. Wherefore we haue no neede of a second natiuitie, the which we do call new birth, & regeneration in respect of this life, the which we haue already, but in respect of the spirituall life, the which we receiue of ye stock of the new Adam, & of the new man, as the stippes ⟨image 32⟩and braunches which are graffed into a good tree, and as the vine braunches which receiue their life and nouriture of their stocke. For that cause Iesus Christe is compared to the stocke of the vine,1 and his disciples to the braunches ioyned to the stocke, and they which are not at al graffed nor ioyned together with him, are cō pared to the braunches that are cut off from the stocke.2 And therefore that this benefit is represented and communicated vnto vs by Baptisme, and howe wee doe put off the olde man and put on the newe,3 Saint Paul saieth, that by Baptisme wee are dead and buried with Iesus Christ, into his death, and risen againe with him, and planted and graffed, and incorporated into him, and that all those which are baptized, haue put on Iesus Christ. And thus much concerning the benefite of regeneratiō, and of baptisme, which is the Sacrament and testimonie thereof, whereby the Lorde witnesseth vnto vs, howe that he doeth renewe and regenerate vs in his sonne Iesus Christe, into a newe life, and doth refourme vs to his image, by the vertue of his holy spirite, and doth adopte vs by the spirit of adoption, and doth aduowe and receiue vs for his children into his house, which is his Church. For the which cause we are baptized in ye name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost. Thus much concerning the nature and 〈…〉
- 1•n. 15.
- 2••gnifica•••n of bap•••me.
- 3••m. 6. ••l. 3.
