If my merits obtained me heaven, or an higher
room there, then had I where in I might rejoice besides the Lord.
((To bynd and lowse.))
Here see ye the nature of the law, and the nature of the
evangelion. How the Law bindeth and damneth all men, and the
Evangelion lowseth them again. The law goeth before, and the
evangelion followeth. When a preacher preacheth the Law, he bindeth
all consciences, and when he preacheth the Gospell, he loveth them
again. These two salves (I mean the Law and the Gospell) useth God
and his preacher to heal and cure sinners withall. The law driveth
out the disease, and maketh it appear, and is a sharp salve, and a
fretting coursey, and killeth the deed fleshly, and lowseth and
draweth the sores out by the roots, and all corruption. It pulleth
from a man the trust and confidence that he hath in him self, and in
his own works, merits, deservings and ceremonies. It killeth him,
sendeth him down to hell, and bringeth him to utter desperation, and
prepareth the way of the lord, as it is written of Ihon the Baptist:
for it is not possible that Christ should come to a man, as long as
he trusteth in him self, or in any worldly thing. Then cometh the
Evengelion, a more gentle plaster, which sowpleth, and swageth the
wounds of the conscience, and bringeth health.
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