The Old Faith an Evident Probation out of the Holy Scripture, Tract · Part 2
¶ The fyrſte and ryght foundation of our holy Chriſten fayth.
HEre now had the iuſt god occaſionThe righteouſnes and mercy of god. and ryght to expell man, to deſtroy hym to dampne hym, and to leaue hym vtterly to the deuel: And the ſame alſo dyd hys ryghteouſnes & true the requyre. For he had ſayde: In what daye ſo euer thou eateſt of the fruyte, thou ſhalt dye the deeth. Contrary wyſe, the goodneſſe and mercye of God requyred, not vtterly to ſuppreſſe man, a poore and naked creature. In the meane …eaſon was thereThe way of ſatiſfactiō before God is Chriſte. founde awaye, wherby the ryghteouſneſſe and trueth of god ſhulde be ſatysfied, and in the whyche the mercy of god ſhulde ſpecyally be exercyſed and declare it ſelfe: that is to ſay, Chryſte Jeſus, whyche is geuen vsus by the manyfeſte grace of god, was offered for our ſynnes, ſatysfied and recompenced the ryghteouſneſſe of God, and ſo delyuered vsus out of the bondes of the Deuell. For he dyed for vsus all, in aſmuche as god ſayd: In what day ſo euer thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalte dye the deathe. Therfore dyed Chriſt for vsus all, that throw hys death we myght lyue, and be taken out of the kyngdome of darkneſſe, and be ſette in the kyngdome of the deare beloued ſonne of God.
Thys deuyſe of gods wyſdome (whych no doubte was determynate from euerlaſtyng) was alſo directly opened vntounto Adā after the fall, in maner folowynge: Whan man had eaten of the frute of the forbydden tree, immedyatlye hys eyes were opened: in ſo much that he was aſhamed, whā he ſawe that he was naked▪ Hytherto had he lyued in innocencye, therefore beganne he now to couer hym ſelfe, but wyth ſymple clotynge, whych they truſted not muche to lyke as it is a … vnprofytable, that man of hym ſelfe wyll couer hys ſynn wythal)Synne. ſauynge that they ſled from the Lord, and hyd them ſelues from hym. But the Lord folowed vppon the fugytiue, put hym in mynde of hys decaye, myſery and the lyfe that he was fallen from, and ſayde: Adam …here art thou? Or knoweſt thou, what miſery thou art fallen into from great felicite? Nowe ſhuld man hauehave knowleged hys faute, but he ſhewed hym ſelfe ſtyfnecked▪ And the Lorde moueth hym ſtyll, to ſe y… he wyll knowlege hys ſynne, and ſayd: …ho tolde the that thou art naked? Yee to helpe hym in the matter and to make hym confeſſe hys ſynne, he ſayeth moreouer▪ Haſt thou not eaten of the tree of the which I …orbade the … thou ſhuldeſt not eate? But man was lothe to knowleg his ſynne, and layed it firſt …on the woman hys companion▪ and the ſame dyd he with ſo froward and vnaduiſed wordes that aThe frowardnes of man. man maye eaſely ſee, that ſecretly in hys hart he wyckedly and vnreaſonably layed the faulte vponupon God. For he ſayd not onelyonly: The woman gaue me of the tre to eate but added proudly thereto: The woman whyche thou gaueſt me. &c. As though he ſhuld ſay: Thou thy ſelfe art in the fault: If thou haddeſt not geuen me the womanWhy god gaue the womā vntounto man. I had not ben diſceaued. And yet the righteous God gaue not hym the woman to diſcea…e hym, but to be an helpe to hym. Wherfore appeareth it here agayne, that the ſynne of mā was the more wylfull and greuous. Yet for al thys dyd the graciousGrace. God proceade further, and woulde proue whether he myght fynde anye knowledge of the ſynne wyth the woman, the begynnynge and occaſyon of the ſynne. But nothyng at all coulde he fynde. The one perſone was as the other, and they hoth had no power. Therfore lyke as Adam put all the fault to the woman, euen ſo …ay… …he woman all the faulte vppon the ſerpente, that is, vppon the deuell. Whyche natureWe all are lothe to knowlege oure ſelues gyltye. doth yet, to thys daye …leue in man. But what man (whych hath well cōſydr…d …his forſayde matter by hymſelfe) wold… no… ſaye, or durſt thy…ke, that any parte of the promes, of ryghteouſnes and ſaluation of man were to be aſcribed to hys owne power and deſeruyng. For aſmuche as it is ſo manyfeſt, how vnable a… …ſt… man is of hym ſelfe, whych doth nothynge but he peth ſynne vponupon ſynne, and dyſoh…d…ence vponupon diſobedience. Agayn, who is ſo blinde, but he ſeyeth, that all ſaluacion is to be aſcr…bed to the onelyonly mer… grace and mercy of god. For now foloweth it fyrſt, how god handled in thys matter.
Now whan all the complynt was made vponupon the ſerpent, the Lorde aſketh andPunyſhement. examineth the Serpente nothyn…e at all, for the dede was opē, nether was the ſerpent created of God to ſpeake, and wyth the deuyll was there no trueth. Therfore doth the Lorde ryghteouſly curſe …h… ſerpent the deuell. Unto the bode…y ſ…rpēt alſo whom the deuell vſed as an inſtrumēt) he geueth a ſore curſe and ſayeth▪ Uppon thy bely ſhalt thou go, and erth ſhalt thou eate all the dayes of thy lyfe. When thys was done, it was ordeyned now firſt for man, that / accordinge to the righteouſnes and trueth of God he ſhulde be puniſhed alſo with the curſe and with eternall death but for the cauſes expreſſed in the begynnyng of this chapter, the curſe was directed vntounto Chriſt: who alſo, with cleare wordes was promiſed, and ſo was lyfe in hym promiſed lykewiſe.
Therfore ſayeth not the Lord now: and curſed be thou mā, becauſe thou haſt doneThe promes. …ene. iii. agaynſt my commaundement, but: And I will put enemyte betwene the and the woman, betwene thy ſede and hir ſede: the ſ…me ſhall treade the on the heade & thou ſhalt treade hym on the ele.
Which is thus moche to ſaye: Thou haſt vſed the woman to the diſtruction of mē ſo that from hens forth they bring deth▪ and by kynde & nature are damned whan they are borne. Therfore will I alſo vſeThe ſerpē tes heade. the woman, but to ſaluatiō: for of the woman ſhall a ſede or chyld be borne, which ſhall breake thy beade, power and kyngdome, ſynne damnation and death: howe…eit in hys manhode he ſhalbe troden downe and bytten. That is: Whan with his tranſgreſſion hath deſerued eternall death, to that after the rigoure of my iuſtice (he ſhuld periſhe and belonge to the …euell for euer: neuertheles I will hauehave mercy vponupon h…m, and receaue hym to grace agayne▪ but to the intent that my trueth and righteouſneſſe maye be ſatiſfyed▪ I wyll cauſe my ſonne to take the very nature of man vponupon hym. Then will I that he take vponupon hym ſelfe the curſe and damnacion / and dye / and with his innocent death to take awaye that noyſome deathand curſe / and ſo to ſet the generation of man out of death▪ in to lyfe / out of the dominion of the deuell in to his owne kyngdome / out of darckneeſſe into light Thus …e right foundation or ground of our holyThe ſure foundatiō of oure fayth fayth continueth faſt and vnmoued: in ſomoche as all the generation of man is whole and clenſed from ſynne / and delyuered from the curſe / from the deuell and euerlaſtinge damnation / onelyonly thorowe the mercy and mere grace of God by Jeſus Chriſt
As touching this / Paul ſayde whan heRo. viii. wrote to the Romaynes in the ighte chapter. God …eet hys ſonne in the ſimylitude of ſynfull fleſhe / and thorowe ſynne (that is to ſaye / thorow the ſynne offring and willyng death of Chriſt / he condemned ſynne in the fleſhe * And in the fyrſte… Corin. …. Epiſtle to the Corinthians the firſt chapter the ſame P. ſayeth: Chriſt Jeſus is appoynted of god to be oure wiſdome / and righteouſneſſe / and ſayntifieng & redempcion: that as it written / who ſo glorieth & reioyſeth / let hym glory and reioyſe in the Lorde.
But for aſmoche as this is the ferſt promesThe goſpell of Jeſu Chryſt. and the firſt ſure Euangelion▪ I wil now ſpeake of eueryevery worde in eſpeciall. Firſt, God calleth his ſone our lord Je, ſus, the ſede of the womā. A ſede, becauſe of the very nature of man, and becauſe that our Lorde ſh…lde not take vponupon hym a phantaſticall, but a very true bodye.
But to theſe wordes ther is added: Of the woman: For our Lord was not conceaued and borne of mās ſ…de, but of the holy gooſt out of the virgyn Mary. Therfore can not this ſentence be vnderſtonde of Eue, but of the virgyn Mary. Nowe where as ſhe is called a woman it is done becauſe of the kynred For euen the daughters alſo and maydens are rekened in the womens kynred, and yet contynue vndefyled virgins. God alſo hath ſpoken here diſtinctly, and ſayde not: I will put enemyte betwene the and this woman, but betwene the and (haiſchah (the woman vnderſtand ſome ſpeciall woman, no doubte euen ſuche one as he afterwarde ſet forth clearly by Eſaye: ſayeng Beholde, a virgy… Eſaye. viiſhall conceaue and beare a ſonne. &c
And this worde ▪ ſede (was alwaye afterwarde in eueryevery renewynge of this promes concernynge Chriſt Jeſu amonge all the patriarkes and prophetes rehearſed (vſed and expreſſed, vntyll the tyme of Dauid, Of whome the Lord afterwarde was called a floure, the rote ſpr…w…ing or bloſſome of Dauid, The holy apoſtle Paul expoundeth this worde (ſede clearly and planely, and ſayeth it is Chriſt Gal. iii. More ou…r it ſerueth to the prayſe of the LordesA prayſe of the virgin Mari mother, that▪ God ſayeth: I wyll put enemytie betwene the woman and the. For he meaneth the difference of both their na …urs. The deuell is proude ſotle wicked falſe and vntrue: but the mother of Chriſt is lowlye, ſymple, vertuous, faythfull and vpright, …haiſt and cleane. And the ſame pure vyrgin and gratious mother hath borne vntounto vsus hym, that trode downe the ſerpentes heade. The heade of the ſerpent is the power and kyngdome of the deuell euenſynne, the curſe and damnation. All thys hath that bleſſed ſede broken for hys faythfull. All which thynges the holy apoſtle Paul alſo hath taught with theſe wordes. The Lorde is become partaker ofHebre. i… ▪ our fleſh & bloude, that he thorow death, mighte take awaye the power from hym, which had the lordſhippe ouer death, that is to ſaye, the deuell, and to delyuer them whiche throwe fear e of death, were all their lyfe tyme in bondage. For he toke not vponupon hym the aungels but the ſede of Abraham toke he vponupon hym. &c. * And to the ſame meanyng doth thys alſo ſerue that foloweth. And thou ſhalt treade him on the hele. The hele is the loweſt parteGene. iii. Chriſtes h…oe. in man, and here it ſingnifieth the mooſte inferiour thinge in Chriſt, euen his fleſhe. Thys hath the olde ſerpent the deuell perſecuted and troden downe by hys mēbres Cayphas, Annas, Herode, and Po…te…s P…late. For Peter ſayeth, Chriſte hath ſuffred for vsus in the fleſh. The godheadi. Pet. iiii. is impuſſible and the ſoule immortall.
But by this treadynge downe of the lord hath God troden dowen the kyngdome of the deuell. That is to ſaye, by his death hath he deſtroyed death, and brought lyfe agayne to al them that beleue. Her of commeth it that Chryſt ſayeth hym ſelfe. Johā xii▪ Nowe is the iudgement of the worldeJohn. xii…i nowe ſhall the prynce of thys worlde be thruſt out. And I whā I am lyfte vp (that is to ſaye cru…yfied) from the earthe, wyll drawe all thynges to me.
At the laſt ſayth the Lorde, that he wyl put enemytie betwene the ſerpente and the womans ſede. Thys maye we ſe in the deuell and hys membres and actes, how they are contrary to Chryſte and hys membres and dedes. But how ſtrong ſo euer the ſerpent is, yet ſhall he be troden downe thorow Chryſt and hys faythfull▪ Herof commeth it that Paul ſpake ſo comfortable to the Romaynes. Roma. xvi. The God ofRom. xvi. peace ſhall ſhortly treade downe the deuell vnderunder youre fete. And here wythall is the dewty alſo of the faytfull in Chryſt ſhortly comprehended. For as touchynge them that ſaye: It is ynoughe then, and is allObiection well, whan I knowlege that I am a ſynner, and ſaued thorow the bleſſed ſede, onelyonly?Anſwere. To them it is here anſwered and clearly geuē to vnderſtande, that all they whych put theyr truſt in the bleſſed ſ…de, take vponupon them the kynde of the ſede, and hate the kynde of the ſerpent, that is to ſaye, ſynne and blaſphemy, and fight alway more and more agaynſte the worlde and the Deuyll as longe as they lyue, yee and occupie them ſelues mooſt faythfully about that whych is gods wyll. And here to nowe ſerueth it that foloweth after. For whan the Lorde had taken awaye the euerlaſtynge death, he layed vppon man a tempo…all punyſhement, correction & diſcipline, in the whych he ſhulde be exerciſed as longe as he lyued vponupon earth. And vponupon the womā he layed combre ſorow and payne, whan ſhe ſhulde beare and bringe forth chyldren. Subiection alſo and ſeruyce wyth feare & obediē te, which ſhe oweth to the mā. To man, he enioyneth laboure for the Lord curſed the erth, and ſayde. Wyth ſorowe ſhalt thouGene. iii. get thy lyuynge all the dayes of thy lyfe: Yee in the ſweate of thy face ſhalte thou eate thy breade. Moreouer he layed temporall death vponupon them bothe and ſayeth: Earth thou arte, and to earth ſhalte thouGene. iii. returne. Of the fyrſte doth Paull ſpeake alſo .i. Timo. ii. The woman ſhalbe ſauedi. Timo. 2 by bearynge of chyldren, yf ſhe contynue in fayth and louelove, and in holyneſſe or clenneſſe and nurtoure Of the ſeconde ſpeaketh the ſame Paul lykewyſe to the Epheſians and Teſſalonians Let noman vndermyne or dyſceaue h…s brother in occup…enge:i. Teſſa. 4. Ephe. iiii. and who ſo hath vſed falſhed and dyſceate let hym do it nomore, but let hym rather labour wyth hys handes ſome honeſt thyng, that he maye hauehave to diſtribute vntounto ſuch as hauehave nede. And as touchinge death▪ Paull alſo ſayeth to the HebruesHebre. ix. in the .ix. Chapter. Howe that it is oppoynted vntounto men, ones to dye, and that euen to Chryſte Jeſus was offred vp and dyed ones for all,