Here thou seest the safety, which is in the kingdom of Christ, by whom we have knowledge and light. If therefore Christ holdeth all things in his hand, and hath power over all things as the Father hath, no man can pluck any thing out of his hands, which he himself also witnesseth in John:1 I give eternal life to my sheep, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand: my Father which gave them me, is greater then all, and none is able to take them out of my Fathers hand. I and my Father are one. 2Wherefore every Christian, when he hath received the Gospel, may worthily rejoice, that he is now under the tuition of Christ, and is not any thing troubled because of his since. If he hath embraced the Gospel, Christ under whom he fighteth will guide the matter excellently well. Satan in deed will tempt him with this and ⟨p. 464⟩that vice, as, with adultery, whoredom, theft, slaughter, envy, hatred, wrath, and other like since. But let him not therefore be discouraged, he hath a king, that is strong & mighty enough, of whom he shall be easily defended. Notwithstanding it will be very hard to stand strongly, and nothing to yield, wherefore prayer in this case is very needful, others also may by their prayers entreat for thee, that a stout courage and manly heart may be given unto thee, to withstand Satan. But it is certain, that thou shalt not be destitute, Christ will easily preserve thee, be not disquieted in mind, let it only be thy care, that thou fallest not from his kingdom. Moreover in this Gospel thou seest, that Christ is both God & man: Man, inasmuch as he praiseth God, and giveth him thanks: God, inasmuch as all things are given unto him of the Father. Which ought to be great comfort unto us in all things that do trouble and afflict us. Whereas he saith: No man knoweth the Son but the Father: neither knoweth any man the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him: he in these words overthroweth free will, which will know God and Christ, when and how it pleaseth it. Here thou hast plainly, from whence the knowledge of God and of Christ is: the Father, saith he, knoweth the Son, and the Son the Father, but how do we know, by this or that preacher? no truly, these are only certain middle instruments, but he only knoweth, to whom the Son will reveal.
Here thou seest the safetie, which is in the kingdome of Christ, by whom we haue knowledge and light. If therefore Christ holdeth all thinges in his hand, and hath power ouer all thinges as the Father hath, no man can plucke any thing out of his handes, which he himselfe also witnesseth in Iohn:1 I giue eternall life to my sheepe, and they shall neuer perish, neither shall any plucke them out of my hand: my Father which gaue them me, is greater then all, and none is able to take them out of my Fathers hand. I and my Father are one. 2Wherefore euery Christian, when he hath receiued the Gospell, may worthely reioyce, that he is now vnder the tuition of Christ, and is not any thing troubled because of his synnes. If he hath embraced the Gospell, Christ vnder whom he fighteth will guide the matter excellently well. Satan in deede will tempt him with this and ⟨p. 464⟩that vice, as, with adulterie, whoredome, theft, slaughter, enuie, hatred, wrath, and other like synnes. But let him not therefore be discouraged, he hath a king, that is strong & mightie enough, of whom he shalbe easily defended. Notwithstanding it wilbe verie hard to stand strongly, and nothing to yeelde, wherefore prayer in this case is verie needefull, others also may by their prayers intreat for thee, that a stout corage and manly heart may be giuen vnto thee, to withstand Satan. But it is certaine, that thou shalt not be destitute, Christ will easily preserue thee, be not disquieted in mynde, let it onely be thy care, that thou fallest not from his kingdome. Moreouer in this Gospell thou seest, that Christ is both God & man: Man, inasmuch as he prayseth God, and giueth him thankes: God, inasmuch as all thinges are giuen vnto him of the Father. Which ought to be great comfort vnto vs in all things that do trouble and afflict vs. Whereas he saith: No man knoweth the Sonne but the Father: neither knoweth any man the Father but the Sonne, and he to whom the Sonne will reueale him: he in these wordes ouerthroweth free will, which will know God and Christ, when and how it pleaseth it. Here thou hast plainly, from whence the knowledge of God and of Christ is: the Father, saith he, knoweth the Sonne, and the Sonne the Father, but how do we know, by this or that preacher? no truly, these are onely certaine midle instruments, but he onely knoweth, to whom the Sonne will reueale.
- 1Joh. 10.28.Ioh. 10.28.
- 2Christians have cause to rejoice although they be divers ways assailed of Satan, for that they be under the tuition of Christ, who will defend and preserve them.Christians haue cause to reioyce although they be diuers wayes assailed of Satan, for that they be vnder the tuition of Christ, who will defend and preserue them.
