Verse 72

Verse 72. That he might show mercy towards our fathers, and remember his holy covenant. Verse 73. That is, the oath which he sware to our father Abraham that he would give us.

Verse 72. That he might shewe mercy towards our fathers, and remember his holy couenant. Verse 73. That is, the oth which he sware to our father Abraham that he would giue vs.

He will deliver us, not only from all evil both of body and especially of soul, but also from our enemies, Satan, and men, & as a Christian must be as it were overwhelmed with all evils together, so also he shall be again wholly delivered from all evils. And he showeth that this grace and blessing was promised to their fathers. Such is the manner of the Apostles also, that they often times have recourse to the old Testament, as I have said before, that God spake and promised by the mouth of the Prophets, &c. even as Zechariah doth in this place.¹ Some man may now say: They are dead, how therefore will he show mercy unto them? Again, what need is there to rehearse, that he would show mercy to the fathers, when as it is declared in the Prophets? But this is therefore done,² that the truth of God may be showed forth, and may be also approved unto us, that we should not be ignorant, that those things are not due to our merits. In the first book of Moses is mentioned, how God promised to Abraham,³ that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed. That is, that by Christ should come peace, grace, and blessing to all nations. Which promise was differed so long a time, that it appeared, that it was in vain and abolished. So unwise, as it seemeth to the world, doth God show him self in his matters, as though all things went backward. Notwithstanding howsoever it was delayed and seemed, yet it is fulfilled and performed whatsoever was promised to Abraham, and God hath not only delivered him from his enemies, but hath bestowed upon him all good things, yea hath given him self unto him, and all that he hath. And all this is therefore done, for that (as Zechariah here ⟨p. 56⟩saith) this mercy and goodness was before promised and confirmed by an oath unto them, which are long since dead, when as we yet were not. He is merciful therefore and favourable, not because of our merits, as though he did owe it unto our righteousness, but of his only grace, favour, and mercy.

He will deliuer vs, not onely from all euill both of body and especially of soule, but also from our enemies, Satan, and men, & as a Christian must be as it were ouerwhelmed with all euills together, so also he shal be againe wholy deliuered from all euils. And he sheweth that this grace and blessing was promised to their fathers. Such is the maner of the Apostles also, that they often times haue recourse to the old Testament, as I haue sayd before, that God spake and promised by the mouth of the Prophets, &c. euen as Zacharias doth in this place.¹ Some man may now say: They are dead, how therefore will he shew mercy vnto them? Againe, what neede is there to rehearse, that he woulde shew mercy to the fathers, when as it is declared in ye Prophets? But this is therefore done,² that the truth of God may be shewed forth, and may be also approued vnto vs, that we shoulde not be ignorant, that those thinges are not due to our merits. In the first booke of Moses is mentioned, how God promised to Abraham,³ that in his seede all ye nations of the earth should be blessed. That is, that by Christ should come peace, grace, and blessing to all nations. Which promise was differred so long a time, that it appeared, that it was in vaine and abolished. So vnwise, as it seemeth to the worlde, doth God shewe him selfe in his matters, as though all thinges went backward. Notwithstanding howsoeuer it was delayed and seemed, yet it is fulfilled and performed whatsoeuer was promised to Abraham, and God hath not onely deliuered him from his enemies, but hath bestowed vpon him all good thinges, yea hath giuen him selfe vnto him, and all that he hath. And all this is therefore done, for that (as Zacharias here ⟨p. 56⟩sayth) this mercy and goodnes was before promised and confirmed by an oth vnto them, which are long since dead, when as we yet were not. He is mercifull therefore and fauourable, not because of our merits, as though he did owe it vnto our righteousnes, but of his onely grace, fauour, and mercy.

1. 1An objection.An obiectiō.
2. 2The answer.The aūswer.
3. 3Gen. 22.18.

¹These are horrible thunderings against our merits & works, that we can not glory, that we have delivered our selves from sins, or that we have deserved his goodness, and the preaching of the Gospel. No, it is not so. Here is no place for boasting: but this text saith, that thou, O Lord, didst promise certain thousands of years before I was borne, that thou wouldest do it. Who did then desire him, that he would give us those things, when he had determined with him self to give them? And upon this promise the Prophets are bold and do stay them selves, for by it we attain unto true goodness, that the mouth of every one may be stopped, that he that will glory, may glory in the Lord. For thus the Lord may say: that thou livest in my kingdom, that thou enjoyest my goodness & grace, it is not to be imputed to thee, but unto me: I promised, and determined with my self to fulfil my promises, thou being ignorant thereof. And here the mouth of every one is stopped. So at this day also none of us, unto whom, thanks be to God, the Gospel hath shined, can glory that we obtained it by our own means, labour, endeavour, or good conversation. For those which were counted the best works, and the most excellent studies are disallowed and overthrown, as to celebrate Mass, to join him self to this or that hypocritical sect, which they call an order, &c. These the Gospel condemneth and rejecteth, and how can I attain to the Gospel by that which it rejecteth? Wherefore this standeth sure and certain, that all that we have, is of the mere grace and goodness of God, so that with his honour and praise we may confess, that we have deserved far otherwise, namely hell fire, if besides this he bestoweth any thing upon us, it is the gift of his grace and goodness. And this is that which Zechariah saith, that is was foretold by the Prophets, and both promised and confirmed by an oath to the fathers,² that he would perform unto us the covenant made to Abraham. Thus he saith to Abraham: By my self have I sworn, saith the Lord, that in blessing I will bless thee. And in thy seed, &c. Which words the Prophets diligently held, marked, ⟨p. 57⟩handled, & always trusted unto them, for that he doth here solemnly swear, that he might wholly assure us, that he would pour forth his blessing upon us.

¹These are horrible thundrings against our merits & workes, that we can not glory, that we haue deliuered our selues from sinnes, or that we haue deserued his goodnes, and the preaching of the Gospell. No, it is not so. Here is no place for boasting: but this text sayth, that thou, O Lorde, didst promise certaine thowsands of yeares before I was borne, that thou wouldest doe it. Who did then desire him, that he would giue vs those thinges, when he had determined with him selfe to giue them? And vpon this promise the Prophets are bold and doe stay them selues, for by it we attaine vnto true goodnes, that the mouth of euery one may be stopped, that he that wil glory, may glory in ye Lord. For thus the Lord may say: that thou liuest in my kingdom, that thou enioyest my goodnes & grace, it is not to be imputed to thee, but vnto me: I promised, and determined with my selfe to fulfill my promises, thou being ignorant thereof. And here the mouth of euery one is stopped. So at this day also none of vs, vnto whom, thankes be to God, the Gospel hath shined, can glory that we obtained it by our owne meanes, labour, endeuour, or good conuersation. For those which were counted the best workes, and the most excellent studies are disallowed and ouerthrowne, as to celebrate Masse, to ioyne him selfe to this or that hypocriticall sect, which they call an order, &c. These the Gospell condemneth and reiecteth, and how can I attaine to the Gospell by that which it reiecteth? Wherefore this standeth sure and certaine, that all that we haue, is of the meere grace and goodnes of God, so that with his honour and praise we may confesse, that we haue deserued farre otherwise, namely hell fire, if besides this he bestoweth any thing vpon vs, it is the gift of his grace and goodnes. And this is that which Zacharias sayth, that is was foretold by the Prophets, and both promised and confirmed by an oth to the fathers,

And now the time is present, the hour is come, wherein, he hath sworn, that salvation should come unto us, as it is declared Mar. 16. Go ye into all the world & preach the Gospel to every creature: he that shall believe & be baptised, shall be saved: but he that will not believe, ¹shall be damned. Men surely have not merited it, no not Abraham him self, who was not made partaker of the promise, seeing that he died long before the fulfilling thereof. In spirit in deed and faith he was partaker of it, but he lived not so long, till the Gospel was revealed to the whole world The promise therefore was made unto him, although, as I have said, he looked not for the fulfilling thereof in this life. That is, his life was not prolonged until the preaching of the Gospel in the whole world, although in faith he obtained the Gospel for him self. Wherefore it can not be said, that that promise was due to his merits, otherwise he must have lived in the earth until the fulfilling thereof, and a due price or reward must have been paid unto him. But now the performing of the promise was after his death, so that every one must needs confess, that that promise was not made to Abraham because of his merits.

And now the time is present, the hower is come, wherein, he hath sworne, that saluation should come vnto vs, as it is declared Mar. 16. Goe ye into all the world & preach the Gospell to euery creature: he that shall beleue & be baptised, shall be saued: but he that will not beleeue, ¹shall be damned. Men surely haue not merited it, no not Abraham him selfe, who was not made partaker of the promise, seeing that he died long before the fulfilling thereof. In spirit in deede and faith he was partaker of it, but he liued not so long, til the Gospel was reuealed to ye whole world The promise therfore was made vnto him, although, as I haue sayd, he looked not for ye fulfilling therof in this life. That is, his life was not prolonged vntill the preaching of the Gospell in the whole world, although in faith he obtained the Gospell for him selfe. Wherefore it can not be sayd, that that promise was due to his merits, otherwise he must haue liued in the earth vntill the fulfilling thereof, and a due price or reward must haue bene payd vnto him. But now the performing of the promise was after his death, so that euery one must needes confesse, that that promise was not made to Abraham because of his merits.

Again, it can not be said,¹ that the Gentiles which enjoy this promise, have obtained it by their merits, which then were not. God promiseth to the fathers and performeth not, he performeth to the Gentiles, to whom notwithstanding no promise was made, who all at that time were not. God will always retain to him self his honour, and be the same God, although the wicked world can not be so persuaded. He chasteneth, reproveth, rebuketh, provoketh, stirreth, allureth, doth whatsoever is to be done, but the worldlings rob him of his honour, and attribute it to them selves, that is, they will not acknowledge, that whatsoever they possess or have, it cometh unto them by the only grace of God. When therefore we glory of such good things, & acknowledge not God to be the author and giver of them, we make our selves as God, and him as our servant. So he is dishonoured, and the honour attributed unto us. But albeit we make merchandise of his honour, yet he hath affirmed in the Scriptures, that he will keep his honour and glory only to him self, that so ⟨p. 58⟩he may be acknowledged to give all things of his mere and only grace. These things he that believeth, doth also receive them: he that doth not believe, shall at the length receive his due reward. Zechariah saith moreover:

Againe, it can not be sayd,¹ that the Gentiles which enioy this promise, haue obtained it by their merits, which then were not. God promiseth to the fathers and performeth not, he performeth to the Gentiles, to whom notwithstāding no promise was made, who all at that time were not. God will alwayes retayne to him self his honour, and be the same God, although the wicked world can not be so perswaded. He chasteneth, reproueth, rebuketh, prouoketh, stirreth, allureth, doth whatsoeuer is to be done, but the worldlings rob him of his honour, and attribute it to them selues, that is, they will not acknowledge, that whatsoeuer they possesse or haue, it commeth vnto them by the only grace of God. When therefore we glory of such good thinges, & acknowledge not God to be the author and giuer of them, we make our selues as God, and him as our seruaunt. So he is dishonoured, and the honour attributed vnto vs. But albeit we make marchandize of his honour, yet he hath affirmed in the Scriptures, that he will keepe his honour and glorye onely to him selfe, that so ⟨p. 58⟩