Fruitful Instructions and Necessary Doctrines, Part 2 – Part 30
2 The cauſe of our ſaluation, is the merciemercy of God,
IN the ſaluation of the godlie, there is nothing to be ſought for, aboue the goodneſſe of God. For ſeeing we are all comprehended in this race of Adam, whiche hath nothing in it, but corruption and ſinfulneſſe, and therefore wholly ſubiect vntounto Sathā what goodneſſe is it, that God canne finde in vsus? And what can hee foreſ… in vsus, but onlye ſinne?Eph. 2.3. So that is is certaine, that God doeth not chooſe men, to take them into the number of his children, becauſe hee foreſaw them to be better then thoſe, whiche he forſooke and reiected:Deu. 4.37 & 7, 8 Pſal. 44.3. Io. 15.16. Act. 13.48 but it muſte needes be that his goodnes and merciemercy bare the cheefeſt ſwaie herein. without any other conſideration. Of his owne free merciemercy and grace, of his owne will in Chriſt his ſonne, he hath choſen and preferred vntounto life whom hee will hauehave to bee ſaued and accompted among the iuſt. Before the children were borne, and when theye had neither done good nor euill (that the purpoſe of God might remain according to election, not by workes,Ro, 9.11.12. but by him that calleth) it was ſaide vntounto her, The elder ſhall ſerue the younger. Hee hath choſen vsus in himſelf,Eph. 1, 4.5 1. Pet. 1.2. before the foūdation of the world was laid, that we ſhould be holie, & without blame, before him in louelove &c. Seing then that the mercy & grace of God, do go before election as ye cheefeſt cauſe thereof: it is manifeſt that all the works of the Law, and deſerts whatſoeuer, are excluded,Iam. 3.8 Mat 3.9 whether they go before faith, or followe after. The Lorde your God is God of gods and Lorde of Lordes,Deu. 10 17. Act. 10.34. Iob. 34.9. Eph. 6.9. a greate God, mighty and terrible which accepteth no perſons, nor taketh reward. Howe much leſſe to him that accepteth not the perſons of Princes, and regardeth not the rich more then the poore? for they be al the workes of his hāds.
3 God hath not elected eueryevery one.
THe Lord is debtor vntounto no mā: It is of his free mercye, whatſoeuer he giueth vntounto man He may beſtow his benefits vponupon whom he wil. I wil ſhew mercy vntounto whom I will ſhewe merciemercy,Ex. 33.19. and I wil hauehave compaſſion, on whom I wil hauehave cō paſſion. In the which wordes he noteth, the higheſt cauſe of beſtowing grace, namelie, his voluntary decree and withall hee inſinuateth, that hee hath appointed his mercy peculierlie for certaine, and yet God in reiecting whom he will, is not onelye without blame, but alſo wonderful in his wiſdome and iuſtice.Ro. 9.17. Ro. 9.21 Hath not the potter power of the claye, to make of the ſame lumpe one veſſel to honour, and another to diſhonour? The cauſes of reprobation are hidde in the eternall and vnſearchable counſel of God: the righteouſneſſe whereof we ought rather to worſhip, thē curiouſly to ſeeke after. Whatſoeuer is in any creature, it is the miniſterie of the power of God. The faithfull being veſſels of merciemercy, are made inſtruments to ſet forth the mercy of the Lorde: and the reprobate being veſſels of wrath: are predeſtinate to ſhewe forth the iudgements of God, and both the one and the other to his euerlaſting glorie.
4 Gods election muſte not bee a cauſe of negligence.
IF God hath beſtowed any grace vppon vsus, and hath aſſured vsus of our ſaluation in Chriſt by meanes of his holye ſpirit: yet muſt wee not thereby take occaſion to be ſecure and negligent:Eph. 2.10. 1. Pet. 1.13 14.15. 1. Theſ. 4.7. Tit. 2.11 12. but rather bee ſtirred ſo much the more earneſtly, to walke in holineſſe, and to attaine vntounto that, whereunto God calleth vsus. And although it conſiſteth not in any mortal mans power to diſapoint the councel which God hath eſtabliſhed from aboue: yet if wee be careleſſe, we do aſmuch as lieth in vsus, to make of none effect the purpoſe of God.
5 Sathan is a continuall enemie to them that feare God.
IT is a common thing not onelye to them that hauehave charge to preach the Goſpell, but alſo to all the faithful to be continuallye aſſaulted of Sathan, when they would ſerue God,Luk. 22.31 1. The 2.18 1. Pet. 5.8. Ro. 8.7. And it is alſo certaine, that wee hauehave as many enemies which do endeuor to turn vsus aſide from the following of God & of his worde, as we hauehave thoughts and affections: and therefore it is required that wee bee well armed with the knowledge of the Goſpell to fight aſwell againſt nature, as againſt an infinit number of temptations which Sathan hath alwaies ready at hand.
6 If we will follow Chriſt; wee muſt ſuffer affliction.
SEing our Lord Ieſus Chriſte is our head and captaine, it cannot be, but that our life muſt be as a continuall fight, For Sathan who is a deadly enemie to the ſonne of God,2. Tim. 3.12. wil neuer leaue the mēbers of Chriſt in reſte, but will torment and vexe them, ſo that wee ſhall hauehave nothing but diſquietneſſe in this life: And therefore we muſt take good courage in him that hath ouercome the world,Io. 16.13. and our truſte in him muſte bee ſuch, that wee doe not doubt, but that the victorie which he hath gotten, is gotten for vsus.
7 God defendeth thoſe that are his.
THe fight of the faithfull is a good fight, for God doth reache forth his hande vntounto them,Pſal. 18.2. 1. Tim. 6.12 2. Tim. 4.7. and the victorye is alreadye prepared for them: And therefore although the world be froward, and althoughe it will alwayes reſiſt the truth and troble them that bring it, yet in the ende hipocriſie ſhalbe confounded, and the rage and hatred of the hipocrits ſhall ſerue to giuegive a greater glaſſe & lighte to the vertue which God giueth vntounto his worde.
8 Faith, and a good conſcience, the armour of the faithfull.
THe true ſeruaunts of God muſt be furniſhed with faithe and a good conſcience, if they will fight vnderunder the banner of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte: And moreouer it is chiefly required in the miniſters of the goſpell that they continue in pure doctrine,2. Tim. 1.18.19 1. Tim. 3 9. 2. Tim. 2 15. that they finde not out falſe imaginations, neither goe aſtraye from true religion, but that they hauehave right vprightneſſe in them: And ſo generallye all the faithfull muſte not onelyonly hauehave a zeale to ſerue God, but they muſt be defenced with good doctrine, and their cheefeſt rule muſt be that God may be honored.
9 Faith is a pretious treaſure.
FAith is a treaſure whiche is well worthy to bee kept. For it is the ſtaye that holdeth vsus vp,Act. 15.9 1. Pet. 1.9 1. Pet. 5.9 it is the prop of our ſaluation, if wee bee not wel grounded in faith, we ſhal quiklie ſinke into the bottomeleſſe pitte of hell,Io. 5.24 and therefore as the men of this worlde are carefull to lay vp their gold and ſiluer (which are but corruptible mettals) ſafe and in ſure keping ſo ought we to be much more carefull to laye vp this treaſure of faithe in a good conſcience. For it is a thing far more pretious, and deſerueth to bee more embraced and maintained.
10 The meanes to enioy faith alwayes,
IF we will enioye faith, not onelie for a little time but for euer: Wee muſte go forwarde with reuerence. When God hath once ſhewed vsus the way of ſaluation, there muſt bee no hipocriſie in vsus, but the true humilitie of the minde.Io. 8.31. Iam. 1.25 Wee muſt not bee lightheaded to be carried away with our violent luſts, nor yet double hearted, to mocke God and to deſpiſe his grace: and ſo may wee bee ſure, that God will giuegive vsus ſuch a conſtancie & ſteedines, as ſhall neuer be ouercōe: although all the temptations in the world do riſe vp againſt vsus,Ro. ….38. yet God will alwaye keepe vsus, for our ſaluation is in his hand, and he hath promiſed to be our keeper and faithefull protector.
11 Prayer is a proofe of Faith.
The chiefeſt exerciſe that the children of God hauehave, is to pray vntounto God. For prayer is a good proofe of our faith when wee hauehave recourſe vntounto our God & call vppon his name,Pro. 15.29. Mat. 21 22. Ro. 12.12 2. Tim. 2.1 2 Iam. 5.15. and doe not onelye thinke and hauehave care of our ſelues but our charitie muſt reach it ſelfe toward al, both ſmall and great, whether they bee of our familiar freindes, and nighe acquaintance or whether they be ſtrangers and ſuch as we doe not know.
12 Faith is not without prayer.
IT is a true token that we hauehave profited in the word of God, if ſo bee that we hauehave an earneſt deſire and affection to pray vntounto God, and ſo that our ſoules doe (as it were) breathe & thirſt after it from day to day: for that man, which ſaith that hee truſteth in God and beleeueth the Goſpell, and in the meane while maketh no accōpt of prayer: hee ſheweth himſelfe to bee but a ſcorner and an hipocrit.Pſ. 34.13 Coll. 4.2. Luc. 18.1. 1. Theſ. 5.17. For if wee receiue the promiſes of God, & if wee bee aſſured of that whiche hee ſaith, wee muſt then ſeeke him, for as he promiſeth to bee our father and ſauiour, ſo he calleth vsus vntounto him, hee reacheth out his hande vntounto vsus, hee ſeeketh nothing, but as we are called to the knowledge of his truth: ſo wee ſhould come and pray him to accompliſh thoſe things which we hauehave hoped for at his hands. And theerfore al they that are negligent to praye vntounto God, do giuegive a great token that they neuer taſted of his promiſes.
13 Of Prayer.
Wee muſte not onlye pray for the faithfull whiche are our brethren alreadye, but for them that are verie farre of (as the poore infidels and vnbeleeuers) althoughe there ſeeme to be a great diſtaunce & difference between both, yet muſt we notwithſtanding hauehave pitty and compaſſion vponupon their deſtruction, to the ende that wee maye praye vntounto God that he woulde drawe them vntounto him ſelfe.
14 LoueLove is a token of Adoption,
GOD hath adopted vsus to bee his children, if we be the members of his ſonne Ieſus Chriſte. whiche cannot bee, vnleſſe wee bee ioyned together in brotherlye louelove one towards another. If we ſeperate our ſelues from them whom God wil hauehave to be his owne,Io. 13.35. 1. Io. 3.15 1. Io. 4.20 wee deuide in ſunder (aſmuch as lieth in vsus) the bodie of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and ſo baniſhe our ſelues from the kingdome of heauen.
15 The price of our redemption.
VVHereas ſinne, Sathan, deathe Hell and dampnation helde vsus in captiuitie, we are now deliuered from the tirannie of all thē by Chriſt Ieſus crucified. Firſte hee ouercame ſinne, when beeing the ſonne of God, in the ſhape of a reprochefull man, as an innocent lambe deſeruing no puniſhment and yet ſuffering moſte cruell puniſhment and bitter deathe, gaue himſelfe a ful and perfect ſacrifice for our ſinnes. And when ſinne was by his death and paſſiō deſtroyed: death alſo in the ſame victorye was diſarmed and maymed:1. Cor. 15.56 For ſinne is the ſting of death, & when death had loſt his ſting & was conquered in Chriſts reſurrectiō frō death: Sathan alſo loſt his ſtrēgth & power which only reſted vppon them which through ſin were in daunger to death:Ro. 6.1… for the rewarde of ſinne is death. Finally becauſe hel onelyonly deuoureth thoſe which through ſinne and death are ſlaues vntounto ſathā it followeth that when the other three were by him ſo mightily vanquiſhed: hell alſo with all the daunger thereof was ſubdued, and we deliuered from all their tirannie.
16 The end of our redemption.
OVr Lorde Ieſus Chriſte hath payed the price of our redemption, and hath deliuered vsus frō the captiuity of ſinne, ſathan deathe and hell, that we might walke before him in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe al the dayes of our life.Luc. 1.75. Ro. 6, 3. Moreouer wee are baptiſed into the death of Chriſt and as we are pertakers of his death ſo ſhould we be pertakers of his reſurrection: to the end that as Chriſte is riſen from death: ſo alſo wee ſhoulde riſe from the death of ſinne, vntounto the life of righteouſneſſe.1. Pet. 3.7. Rom. 8.17 Furthermore by the benefite of Chriſts paſſion we are made heires of God with him, & children of light. And therefore wee ſhould walk according to our calling & hauehave no fellowſhip with the workes of darkneſſe, neither paſſe our tyme in vaine delights, but put on the lord Ieſus Chriſte, and not ſatiſfie the luſtes and deſires of the fleſhe. Wee are alſo by profeſſion citizens of heauen,Eph. 2.19. and of the houſholde of God: our conuerſation therefore ſhoulde bee in heauen with a manifeſte declaration of the contempt of this miſerable worlde, and the tranſitory vanities in the ſame.
17 Chriſt is the true ſhephearde.
OVr Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath promiſed that if we hold him for our ſhepheard, hee will not ſuffer the Diuel to hauehave any aduauntage of vsus, but he wil diſpence the vertue and power of God his father whiche ſhall ouercome all hys enemies,Io. 10.11. Eze. 34.23. Eſa. 40.11 and therefore we ſhalbee well defended if wee hauehave Ieſus Chriſt to bee our captaine and guide. For the which cauſe we muſt learne of him to bee Sheepe, and to walke in his obedience, and to cōmit our ſelues to his protection: and that we may do ſo, wee muſte conſider the frailtie that is in vsus: For when wee once know that we ſhould quickly be ouercome of Sathan, if we were not vpholden and maintained by a greater vertue: it wilbe as a ſpurre vntounto vsus to moue vsus to hauehave our whole recourſe vntounto GOD, and to call vppon him with alhumblenes & carefulnes.
18 Wee cannot merit Gods fauour.
IF wee ſtande in talke of acquiting our ſelues before God it is certaine that wee can finde nothing in our ſelues worthye ſuche a reconciliation or that maye come any thing neare it. And therefore it ſtandeth vsus vppon to ſearch our neede and want in Chriſt Ieſus, how by the price of his blood we are reconciled to God his father,Io. 15.5 2, Cor. 3.5 and that wee hauehave free acceſſe giuen vntounto vsus, ſo that we may boldelie and confidently call vppon him.
19 Ieſus Chriſt muſte ſanctifie our prayers.
SO often as the faithfull doe ſettle themſelues to pray vntounto GOD, they muſte knowe that all their prayers muſt be ſanctified and conſecrated by the blood of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. For if in prayer wee doe not ground our ſelues vppon the grace of the onelye Mediatour, that was giuen vsus, we muſt needes be in doubte and perplexitie, all our prayers are polluted and vncleane: There is no meane to ſanctifie them and to make them ſtande good and ſtedfaſt before God, vnleſſe they bee watered by the bloud of Chriſt,Iam. 1.6 Mat. 11 24 as the ſcripture alſo ſheweth that if we pray not in Faith and certainty, we ſhall neuer profitte any thing at all. When we come vntounto God we muſt be out of doubt that we pray (as it were) by his mouth, and his wil muſt be a rule that can neuer deceaue vsus,He. 11.6 ſo that we may not ſwarue from it the leaſt iott that may be, neither to the right hand nor to the left. For God will not be prayed vntounto, but after his owne will, and not according to the fantaſtes of men.
20 Chriſt the onelie mediator, and why ſo called.
OVr Sauiour Chriſt is not onlie called a Mediatour in reſpect hereof that hee reconciled vsus to God by his deathe at once, But becauſe hee appeareth now before the Maieſtie of God, to th'end that wee might be heard by his meanes.1. Tim. 2.5 For theſe are two thinges whiche cannot be ſundred, as namely the death and paſſion of the ſonne of God, and that he now maketh interceſſion for vsus.
Moreouer, Ieſus Chriſt is called the onelyonly Mediatour, not onelie, becauſe he now maketh interceſſion for vsus, but alſo becauſe he ſuffered death for vsus, and therefore we cannot giuegive this office vntounto the ſaincts, but wee muſte make them our redemers, and ſo caſt Chriſt cleane away the whiche is an horrible blaſphemie,
21 The Goſpell a neceſſary witneſſe of our ſaluation.
IT were to ſmal purpoſe that Ieſus Chriſt had redemed vsus from euerlaſting death, and had ſhed his blood to reconcile vsus to God, vnleſſe wee were certified of this benefitte by meanes of the Goſpell, for it is faith that bringeth vsus into poſſeſſion of this ſaluation: And although we finde it not but in the perſon of our Lorde Ieſus & we muſt needs come thither: yet if we hauehave not this keye of faithe, Ieſus Chriſte ſhall bee (as it were) ſtraunge vntounto vsus, and all that he ſuffered will nothing at all profit vsus, as indeed it doth not thē belong vntounto vsus
22 Wee are called by the Goſpell.
WHenſoeuer the Goſpel is preached, wee hauehave to knowe and conſider, that it is to make vsus pertakers of Ieſus Chriſt that being ingrafted in him,Heb. 2.11. wee mighte hauehave parte and portion in all his riches & whatſoeuer he hath may be ours. For ſeeing it hath pleaſed him once to become our brother, we neede not doubt but in taking vppon him our poore & wretched eſtate, he hath made ſuch an exchaunge with vsus, that we might be riche in him. By the preaching of the Goſpell, God calleth vsus vntounto himſelf and it wilbe neither in vaine, nor loſt labour if we come accordinglie.
23 The perfection of Wiſedome.
GOD hath giuen vsus the perfection of wiſedome in the holy ſcriptures: and therefore no man ſhoulde geue himſelfe to fables and fooliſh queſtions, which are not profitable to edification, but cleaue faſte and content himſelfe with the worde of God, and with the trueth of doctrine conteyned in the ſame. For the which cauſe wee are commaunded to try all thinges,1. Th. 5.21 and keepe that which is good. For the Diuel cannot ſo culour his lies and deceipts, but when wee come to the touchſtone of the worde of God, wee ſhall then knowe, what is to be receaued, and how we may well diſcerne it from falſe doctrines, and from the forged and counterfaite practiſes of mens deuiſes.
24 The ende of the Lawe.
THE Lawe of God doth not only teache vsus howe wee ought to liue with our neighbors being conuerſaunt with them, without deceipt, malice, or violence, and how to ſerue God in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe:1, Tim. 1.5 but the cheefeſt ende of the law, is to leade vsus to Chriſt, to ſeeke our ſaluation in him. For it hath pleaſed God to receaue vsus into his fauour by the meanes of his onelye ſon, becauſe we are waſhed and made cleane from our filthineſſe,1. Cor. 6 11 becauſe he hath payed our debtes, whereby we were in danger to euerlaſting death: And finally becauſe we cannot bee iuſtified by the deedes of the lawe, or our owne merits,Ro. 5.1 Gal. 3.10 but by the free goodneſſe of our God. The lawe conteyneth nothing contrarye to the Goſpell, and if wee conſider rightly, wee ſhall finde that the Goſpell is a ſimple expounding of that whiche Moyſes preached before: and althoughe there was a darkneſſe in the ſhadowes and figures of the lawe: And that God was not in ſome reſpecte ſo gratious vntounto the olde fathers as vntounto vsus: yet notwithſtanding the ſubſtaunce of the Goſpel is drawn from thence,1. Tim. 1.5 Heb. 11.2. and wee hauehave the ſame faith which they had that liued before the cōming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Great cauſe hauehave wee therefore to profit in the Lawe of God, & to take heede we loſe not ſo great a treaſure.
25 LoueLove the fruite of Faith.
LOueLove proceedeth from faith which carieth with it a good conſcience and a pure harte and ſo is louelove the fruite of Faithe: whereby wee knowe that which is ſecret. Moreouer we muſt knowe that faithe is not a wandering opinion, it conſiſteth not in talking well: but it is a liuely knowledge rooted in the harte, for therein God offereth himſelf vntounto vsus & will hauehave vsus for our parts to come vntounto him.
26 The ſpirit of Faith, is the ſpirit of louelove,
THe ſame ſpirit, whiche is the ſpirit of Faith and perſwadeth our conſciences to beleeue the vnſpeakeable goodneſſe and merciemercy of God towards vsus in Chriſt Ieſus, is alſo the ſpirit of louelove, and enflameth our hartes earneſtlie to louelove ſo bountifull and ſo mercifull a God, that vouchſafed (when we were yet his enemies) to giuegive his dearlye beloued ſonne to death for vsus.Io. 3.16 1. Io. 4.9.10 Now, if by the motion of one ſpirit we doe by faithe aſſuredlie know Gods goodneſſe toward vsus, and by the knowledge and true ſenſe thereof do louelove him for the ſame: needes muſt there follow obedience to his will, and perpetual ſtudie to pleaſe him.Io. 14.13 Faithe then of neceſſitie bringeth forth louelove, and louelove bringeth forth obedience to his will. He that loueth me (ſaieth our ſauiour Chriſt) keepeth my ſayings. This louelove then ſhould lead vsus to obedience this louelove ſhoulde be the roote of all good doings, and not of a proud hope to merit Gods fauour and euerlaſting life by our owne good woorkes.Luc. 17.10
For when wee hauehave done all that we can doe (as Chriſte witneſſeth) wee hauehave not (yet) done ſo much as of duetie we ſhould doe.
27 Faith it is that iuſtifieth.
HE ſheweth himſelfe to be a prepoſterous interpreter of the lawe, who ſeeketh to be iuſtified by the workes thereof: becauſe the Lawe was giuen to this ende, that it might leade vsus by the hande to another righteouſneſſe, Whatſoeuer the Lawe teacheth, whatſoeuer it commaundeth, whatſoeuer it promiſeth,Ro. 5.1 Ro. 10.4 Gal. 3.24. it hath Chriſt always for his marke, and therefore all the partes thereof are to bee directed vntounto him, And that cannot bee, vnleſſe we being ſpoyled of all righteouſneſſe, confounded with the knowledge of ſinne, doe ſeeke for free righteouſneſſe of him onlie. For although the lawe of righteouſneſſe doeth promiſe a rewarde to his obſeruers: Yet after it hath brought all vnderunder giltineſſe, it ſubſtituteth a new righteouſneſſe which is not gotten by the merit of works,Ro. 3, 20. but being freely giuen, is receaued by faith.
28 The vſe of the Lawe.
THe Lawe is giuen to condemne vsus, to th'end we ſhould ſeeke ſaluation in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt foraſmuch as in our ſelues there is nothing but condemnation. And although the childrē of God are exempt and ſet at liberty from the curſe therof, by the grace of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, inſomuch as hee hath put out the hand writing of ordinances that was againſte vsus,Col. 2.14. and faſtened the ſame vppon the croſſe, to the end that when we ſhall come before the iudgement ſeate of God, wee might be acquited and diſcharged: yet notwithſtanding becauſe of our manifold corruptions and ſuperfluities: God applieth his law to ſtirr vsus vp to goodneſſe, and to correct our vices that our hartes ſhould not be hardened: … therefore wee ought to ſubmitte our ſelues vntounto it willinglie, and not bee like vntounto the wicked whiche muſt bee conſtreyned thereunto by force.
29 The Lawe and the Goſpell.
THe Law was giuen after a fearefull and terrible manner, and it brought nothing but deathe and curſing: And the Goſpel bringeth vsus life and ſaluation. In the law there was (as it were) a vaile & couering,Ex. 19.18. Deu. 4.11. and God ſpake (as it were) in a ſhadowe, but in the Goſpell hee reuealeth himſelfe face to face, and not onelye in a naturall image but to the end that we ſhould hauehave our ſhape turned into his glory, and that we ſhould profitte therein from day to daye. In the goſpell we hauehave the ſumme of righteouſneſſe as ſaith the Prophet Malachie, Mal. 4.2.wherein God ſaieth not that hee will make his worde as a lampe as before in the Lawe: but it is ſaide that the ſun of righteouſneſſe ſhall ariſe, and vnderunder his wings ſhalbe perfect health as the Apoſtle alſo declareth, that the doctrine which is nowe ſet foorthe is not darke and obſcure. For God hath in ſuch ſort taken order for what ſoeuer was expedient for the perfection of our ſaluatyon that we ſee clearlie in the doctrine of the goſpel, what ſoeuer is neceſſary and requiſit for vsus wee neede not any more goe ſeek the ſtarres, ſeing wee hauehave the Sunne that ſhineth ſo brightlie: and therfore let vsus learne to bee content with the Goſpell, foraſmuche as God hath giuen vsus ſuch a direction as he knoweth meete for our ſaluation.
30 The Lawe and the Goſpel,
THe Lawe ſheweth vsus our ſin, the Goſpell ſheweth vsus remedie for it The Lawe ſheweth vsus our condemnation,Ro. 3.20 Io. 1, 29 Ro. 7.7 Col. 1.6 Ro. 4.15. Act. 14.3. Io. 1.29. Ro. 5.10 the Goſpell ſheweth vsus our redemption. The Law cauſeth wrathe, the goſpell is the worde of grace: the lawe is the worde of diſpaire, the goſpell is the worde of comfort, The Lawe ſaith pay thy debt, the goſpell ſaith, Chriſt hath paid it. The Law ſaith thou art a ſinner, diſpaire and thou ſhalt be damned: the goſple ſaith thy ſinns are forgiuen thee, be of good comfort, thou ſhalt be ſaued. The law ſaith, make amends for thy ſinne? the goſpell ſaith, Chriſt hath made it for thee. The lawe ſaith, the father of heuen is angrye with thee, the goſpell ſaith, Chriſt hath pacified him with his blood. The Law ſaieth where is thy righteouſneſſe goodneſſe and ſatiſfaction: the Goſpell ſaith, Chriſte is thy righteouſneſſe goodneſſe, and ſatiſfaction: The law ſaith thou arte bound and endebted to mee, The goſpell ſaith, Chriſt hath deliuered thee from them all. He that beleeueth not Gods worde, beleeueth not God him ſelfe, the Goſpell is Gods worde, therfore he that beleeueth not the goſpell, beleeueth not god himſelfe.