DIAL. XV.
Verses 18, 19. Likewise then as by the offence of one, the fault came on all men to condemnation; so by the Iustifying of one, the benefit abounded towardes all men to Iustification of life. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of that one, many shall bee made Righte∣ous.
WHat doth this Scripture containe?
First, a rehearsall of the comparison be∣tweene Adam and Christ, begun in the twelfth verse. Secondly, a laying forth the ground of this whole com∣parison.
Declare the comparison, as it is rehearsed in the 18. Verse?
As by the offence of one Adam, guiltinesse came ouer all men to make them subiect to death, so on the contrary part, the righteousnesse of Christ imputed to beleeuers through Gods free fauour, iustifieth them, that they may become partakers of eternal life. Or thus; as by Adam, guiltinesse came on all men to death eter∣nall, so by Christ, righteousnesse is giuen to all belee∣uers vnto life eternall.
What is the ground of all this comparison?
That Adam and Christ, by the decree of God, are not as two particular persons, but as two rootes or stocks or heads of all mankinde: that as out of the one, springeth sin and death by Nature, so out of the other springeth righteousnesse and life by Grace.
Whereunto tends all this?
To make vs to vnderstand, that we are iustified not by our owne workes, but by Faith in Iesus Christ. For hauing in our selues (by meanes of Adams offence) guiltinesse & death, how can our workes iustifie vs? and