Library · The History of the Reformation in Scotland (Works, vol. 1)
Part 10
The History of the Reformation in Scotland (Works, vol. 1) · John Knox
Christ is our rychteousness.
Christ is oure wisdome.
Christ is our sanctifcatioun.
Christ is our redemptioun.
Christ is our satisfactioun.
Christ is our goodness.
Christ hath pacifeid the Father of Heavin.
Christ is ouris, and all his.
Christ hath delivered us frome the law, frome the devill, and hell.
The Father of Heavin hath forgevin us for Christis saik. Or anie such other, as declair unto us the mercyes of God.
THE NATURE [AND OFFICE] OF THE LAW, AND OF THE GOSPELL.
The Law schawith us, Our synne. Our condemnatioun, Is the word of ire. Is the word of dispair. Is the word of displeasure.
The Gospell schawith us, A reamedy for it. Oure redemptioun, Is the word of grace. Is the word of conforte. Is the word of peace.
A DISPUTATIOUN BETUIX THE LAW AND THE GOSPELL.
The Law sayith, Paye thy debt, Thow art a synnar desparat. And thow shalt die.
The Gospell sayith, Christ hath payed it. Thy synnes ar forgevin thee. Be of good conforte, thow shalt be saved.
The Law sayith, Mack a mendis for thy synne. The Father of Heaven is wraith wyth thee. Quhair is thy rychteousnes, goodnes, and satisfactioun? Thou art bound and obligat unto me, [to] the devill, and [to] hell.
The Gospell sayith, Christ hath maid it for thee. Christ hath pacefeid him with his blood. Christ is thy rychteousnes, thy goodnes, and satisfactioun Christ hath delivered thee from thame all.
[THE DOCTRINE] OFF FAITH.
Faith is to beleve God; "lyck as Abraham beleved God, and it was compted unto him for rychteousnes." (Gen. 15.)--"He that beleved God, beleved his word." (Joan. 5.)--To beleve in him, is to beleve his word, and accompt it trew that he speikith. He that belevith not Goddis word, beleveth not him self. He that belevith nott Goddis word, he compteth him fals, and ane lyar, and beleveth not that he may and will fulfill his word; and so he denyeth both the myght of God and him self.
IX. Faith is the gift of God.--"Everie good thing is the gift of God." (Jacob. 1.)--Fayth is good.--Ergo, faith is the gift of God.
X. [Faith is not in our power.]--The gift of God is not in oure power.--"Faith is the gift of God."--Ergo, fayth is not in oure power.
XI. [He that lacketh faith cannot please God.]--"Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebr. 11.)--All that cummith nott of fayth, is synne; for without faith can no man please God.--Besydis, that he that lacketh faith, he trusteth nott God. He that trusteth not God, trusteth nott in his wourd. He that trusteth not in his wourd, hauldeth him self fals, and a liear. He that haldeth him self false and a lyer, he belevith not that he may doo that he promeseth, and so denyeth he that he is God. And how can a man, being of this fassioun, please him? No maner of way. Yea, suppoise he did all the werkis of man and angell.
XII. All that is done in fayth, pleaseth God.--"Richt is the wourde of God, and all his werkis in faith." "Lord, thine eis look to faith." That is asmuch to saye as, Lord, thow delitest in fayth. God loveth him that belevith in him. How cane thei then displease him?
XIII. He that hath the faith, is just and good.--And a good trie bringeth furth good fruite.--Ergo, all that is in faith done pleaseth God.
XIV. [He that hath faith, and believeth God, cannot displease him.]--Moreovir, he that hath the faith belevith God.--He that belevith God, belevith his worde. He that belevith his word, woteth weall that he is trew and faithfull, and may nott lie: But knowith weall that he may and will boith fulfill his word. How can he then displease him? For thow canst not do ane greattar honor unto God, then to count him trew. Thow wilt then say, that thift, murther, adulterie, and all vices, please God? Nane, verrelie; for thei can not be done in faith: "for a good tree beareth good frute." He that hath the faith, woteth weall that he pleaseth God; for all that is done in fayth pleaseth God. (Hebr. 11.)
XV. Faith is a suirness.--"Faith is a suir confidence of thingis quhilk ar hoped for, and a certantie of thinges which ar not sene." (Hebr. 11.)--"The same spreit certifieth our spreit that we are the children of God." (Rom. 8.)--Moirovir, he that hath the faith, woteth weill that God will fulfill his word.--Ergo, fayth is a suirness.
A MAN IS JUSTIFEID BE FAITH.
"Abraham beleveth God, and it was impueted unto him for ryghteousnes." "We suppose thirfoir that a man is justified (saith the Apostill) without the workis of law." (Rom. 4.)--"He that workith not, but belevith in him that justifieth the ungodlie, his faith is compted unto him for ryghteousnes." "The just man levith by faith." (Abac. 2; Rom. 1.)--"We wote, that a man that is justifeid, is not justifeid be the workis of the law, but be the faith of Jesus Christ, and not by the deadis of the law."
OF THE FAITH OF CHRIST