Verse 78

Verse 78. Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day spring from an high hath visited us.

Verse 78. Through the tēder mercy of our God, wherby the day springe from an high hath visited vs.

Here it appeareth that they which teach and observe laws, works, and merits, do strive against both the mercy of God & knowledge of salvation.¹ For he saith not that forgiveness of sins hath come by the prayers or works of the fathers, or of any of the Saints, but through the bottomless mercy of God, which Luke calleth the tender mercy, and such mercy as cometh from the most inward affection and bowels. Notwithstanding this forgiveness of sin, which cometh unto us by mercy, is not without merit, although it cometh to pass without our merit: but a Mediator cometh between, who hath in our stead deserved it for us, which is Christ our Lord. For God would that satisfaction should be made unto him for our sins, and that his honour and law should be performed, here we were able to do nothing. But Christ alone both was able, and satisfied for us who of the infinite mercy of the father, was sent for the same cause, and that to us, that he might dispatch it. Therefore he saith, Through which infinite & bottomless mercy the day spring from an high hath visited us. Without all doubt it was no merit, but only unmeasurable mercy, that Christ came to us, and merited and obtained for us such remission of sins unto eternal salvation. Now he calleth him, the day spring from an hie, which signifieth unto us his divinity. And this is his meaning: on hie, that is, above all creatures, where nothing is higher, but height alone, there is Christ in his divinity, as the morning or day spring. For he proceedeth from the father, as the beams do from the sun, whereof we have elsewhere spoken at large.

Here it appeareth that they which teach and obserue lawes, workes, and merits, doe striue against both the mercy of God & knowledge of saluation.¹ For he sayth not yt forgiuenes of sinnes hath come by the prayers or workes of the fathers, or of any of the Sainctes, but through the bottomles mercy of God, which Luke calleth the tender mercy, and such mercy as commeth from the most inward affection and bowells. Notwithstanding this forgiuenes of sinne, which commeth vnto vs by mercye, is not without merit, although it commeth to passe without our merit: but a Mediatour commeth betwene, who hath in our steede deserued it for vs, which is Christ our Lorde. For God would that satisfaction should be made vnto him for our sinnes, and that his honour and lawe shoulde be performed, here we were able to doe nothing. But Christ alone both was able, and satisfied for vs who of the infinit mercy of the father, was sent for ye same cause, and that to vs, that he might dispatche it. Therefore he sayth, Through which infinit & bottomles mercy the day springe from an high hath visited vs. Without all dout it was no merit, but only vnmeasurable mercy, that Christ came to vs, and merited and obtained for vs such remission of sinnes vnto eternall saluation. Now he calleth him, the day springe from an hie, which signifieth vnto vs his diuinitie. And this is his meaning: on hie, that is, aboue all creatures, where nothinge is hier, but heighth alone, there is Christ in his diuinitie, as the morning or day springe. For he proceedeth from the father, as the beames doe from the sunne, whereof we haue elsewhere spoken at large.