The Whole Sum of Christian Religion, Part 6
The Concluſion of the whole: of th'ende and vſe of this Lawe.
By all theſe conſidered together it may ſufficiently appeare, that ſeeing thys moſte holy Lawe requireth ſo abſolute perfection (an other manner of thinge then mortall men are able to come vntounto any thing neere, ſynce that they fell) and hath a moſte fearefull curſe, or ſentence of eternall damnation to thoſe that ſhall breake any iote thereof (excepting none others, but thoſe that ſeeke the accompliſhmente thereof on their behalfe in Ieſus Chriſte) therefore is this Lawe geuen, to thoſe that are Ignoraunte of their abilitie, or eſtate, to teache them that this way, that is, by the righteouſneſſe of workes, there is no ſaluation to be had, for that they are not able to performe the ſame. ſo to driue them all to the other, to ſeeke their iuſtification by Fayth: that is, by the death and merites of Ieſus Chriſt. To thoſe that do come vntounto Chriſt, to giuegive them to vnderſtande, from how great impoſſibilitie he hath deliuered them, who hath performed the ſame to their vſe: how fully he hath anſwered the iuſtice of God, in that he hath wrought for vsus ſo perfect righteouſnes; and ſo conſequently howe ſubſtancially he hath wrought our ſaluation: and what is the way, or what are the workes, wherein we ſhoulde walke and beſtowe our labour; and that, not vnprofitably, although we be not able to walke in ſuche ſorte as it requireth. To thoſe that will not ſo take holde of Chriſt, but that they will needes be ſaued, eyther in the whole, or in ſome parte, by their owne halfe-faced workes, or by ſome other waye beſides, or els not at all, to teach them, that as for their beſt endeuour (when they hauehave done but what they can, and not all, or eueryevery iote) neither it, nor any other helpe will be able to ſerue their purpoſe in this matter: but that eyther they muſt doo all, and eueryevery iote, euen the vttermoſte farthing that is due by theſe Commaundementes, or els be damned without redemption. For that it hath not pleaſed God (as alſo it coulde not ſtande with his Iuſtice) to ſaue by their beſt endeuour, or any way els: but by taking holde of, or putting their truſt, onelyonly, and ſoundly in Ieſus Chriſte. That ſo they may knowe, that becauſe they doo not vtterly renounce their owne works, and whatſoeuer els; nor can abide to be ſaued, onelyonly by their Fayth in Chriſt: therfore doo they worthely periſhe.
FINIS.
Deut. 4. a. 5-9.
Beholde, I hauehave taught you ordinances and lawes, ſuch as the Lord my god commaunded me, that ye should do ſo in the lande vvhither ye goe to poſſeſſe it. Kepe them therfore, and do them. For that is your wiſdome and vnderſtanding in the ſight of other nations: that they maye heare all theſe ordinances, and ſay; Surely, it is a wiſe and vnderſtanding people: it is a great nation. For vvhat other natiō is ſo great, that hauehave their gods come ſo nigh vntounto them, as the Lord our God is nigh vntounto vsus in all things, as oft as vve call vntounto him? Yea and what nation is ſo great, that hath ordinances and lawes ſo righteous, as all this lawe vvhiche I ſet before you this day? Take hede to thee ſelfe therefore, and keepe thy ſoule diligently, that thou forget not the things that thine eyes hauehave ſeene, and that they depart not out of thine heart all the dayes of thy life: but teache them thy ſonnes, and thy ſonnes ſonnes.
End of the text · Edmund Bunny, The Whole Sum of Christian Religion (1576)