Matt. 25. 34.
The text.
Come ye blessed of my father, possesse you the kingdome ∴ prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
The note.
This kingdome then is prepared for those only that do goodworks: as Christ also signifieth els where, saieng that it is not in his power to giue it otherwise. See the annotations chap. 20. verse 23.
The answer.
This note might be passed ouer, if the corrupt meaning of them, which giue it were not manifest. Therefore this we say, that whosoeuer by beléeuing in the name of Christ haue power to become the sonnes of God,* 1.1 they also are fruitfully replenished with all maner of good works, as time, place, occasion, and other circumstances do serue, which serueth not in all alike. For the théefe vpon the crosse being now readie to die,* 1.2 and hauing spent lewdly his former life, and therefore not hauing meanes to shew foorth his faith, otherwise than by confession, is promised to be partaker of the kingdome of Christ.* 1.3 And at what time soeuer a sinner truly repenteth him of his sinnes, God putteth all his sins out of remembrance, how then can he be accursed or excluded out of the kingdome of heauen? But our papists must either merit al at Gods hand, or els they must haue nothing. Your note to which you refer vs shall be considered of amongst your other larger an∣notations.