25 Verily, verily I say unto you. Seeing that the Evangelist bringeth in the son of God so oftentimes swearing in the matter of our salvation: we do first of all hereby perceive how careful he was for us: and secondly, how greatly it skilleth that the credit of the gospel be well and throughly established and grounded. Truly he seemeth to tell in this place a certain uncredible thing, when as this effect of faith is declared whereof Christ entreateth: therefore he confirmeth with an oath that the voice of the Gospel is so lively, that it is able to raise up the dead. It is evident enough that he speaketh of the spiritual death. For they that refer it unto Lazarus and the son of the widow of Na•m, and such like, they are refuted by the text it self. Christ telleth us first that we are all dead, before he doth quicken us. And hereby it appeareth of what force the whole nature of man is unto the obtaining of salvation, When as the Papists will set up their free will, they compare it to the Samaritan, whom the robbers left half dead in the way. As though it were lawful with the smoke of an Allegory to darken a clear sentence, whereby Christ doth flatly adjudge us to death. And truly seeing that we are estranged from God through sin, after the falling away of the first man, whosoever do not acknowledge themselves to be oppressed with eternal destruction, they do nothing else but deceive themselves with vain flatterings. I grant truly, that there remaineth some life in the soul of man: (for both the understanding, and will, & all the senses are so many parts of life) but because there is no part of life, which doth aspire unto the heavenly life, it is no marvel if the whole man, as appertaining unto the kingdom of God, be judged ⟨p. 121⟩dead. And Paul declareth this death at large (Ephe. 2. 1. and 4. 17.) when as he saith that we are estranged from the pure & sound reason of the mind, and that being enemies unto God with all the affection of our heart, and adversaries of his justice, that we wander in darkness being blind, we are given to wicked concupiscence. If there be no force in a nature, that is so corrupt, to desire righteousness, it followeth that the life of God is quite extinguished in us. So that the grace of Christ, is the true resurrection from death. Furthermore, we have this grace given us by the gospel:
25 Verily, verily I say vnto you. Seeing that the Euangelist bringeth in the sonne of God so oftentimes swearing in the matter of our saluation: we doe first of all hereby perceiue how carefull hee was for vs: and secondly, how greatly it skilleth that the credite of the gospel be well and throughly established and grounded. Truly hee seemeth to tell in this place a certaine vncredible thing, when as this effect of faith is declared whereof Christ intreateth: therefore he confirmeth with an oathe that the voyce of the Gospel is so liuely, that it is able to rayse vp the dead. It is euident enough that he speaketh of the spirituall death. For they that referre it vnto Lazarus and the sonne of the widdow of Na•m, and such like, they are refuted by the text it selfe. Christe telleth vs first that wee are all dead, before he doth quicken vs. And hereby it appeareth of what force the whole nature of man is vnto the obtaining of saluation, VVhen as the Papistes will set vp their free will, they compare it to the Samaritane, whom the robbers left halfe dead in the way. As thogh it were lawful with the smoak of an Allegorie to darken a cleare sentence, whereby Christ doth flatly adiudge vs to death. And truly seeing that we are estraunged from God through sinne, after the falling away of the first man, whosoeuer doe not acknowledge themselues to be oppressed with eternall destruction, they doe nothing els but deceiue themselues with vaine flatterings. I graunt truly, that there remaineth some life in the soule of man: (for both the vnderstanding, and will, & all the senses are so many partes of life) but because there is no part of life, which doth aspire vnto the heauenly life, it is no maruell if the whole man, as appertaining vnto the kingdome of God, bee iudged ⟨p. 121⟩dead. And Paule declareth this death at large (Ephe. 2. 1. and 4. 17.) when as hee saith that we are estraunged frō the pure & sound reason of the minde, and that being enemies vnto God with all the affection of our hearte, and aduersaries of his iustice, that we wander in darkenesse beyng blinde, we are giuen to wicked concupiscence. If there be no force in a nature, that is so corrupt, to desire righteousnesse, it followeth that the life of God is quite extinguished in vs. So that the grace of Christ, is the true resurrection from death. Furthermore, we haue this grace giuen vs by the gospell:
