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That all the saints in the old law, and other ages before it, were iustified only by the mistery, and faith of Christ. CHAP. 25.
By the fayth of this mistery might the ancient Saints of God also bee iustifi∣ed (together with godly life) not only before the law was giuen the hebrewes, (for they wanted not Gods instructions nor the Angels) but also in the very 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the law, though they seemed to haue carnall promises in the types of spy∣r•…•…al thinges, it being therefore called the old Testament. For there were Pro∣p•…•…s then that taught the promise as wel as the Angels, and one of them was he •…•…se sacred opinion of mans good, I related before: It is good for me to adhere vn∣•…•…. In which Psalme the two Testaments are distinguished. For first, hee •…•…ng those earthly promises abound so to the vngodly) saith his (b) feete slip∣p•…•…, and that he was almost downe, as if hee had serued God in vayne, seeing that •…•…ty that hee hoped of God was bestowed vppon the impious: and that hee la∣boured sore to know the reason of this, and was much troubled vntill hee entred into the sanctuary of God, and there beheld their endes whome hee, (in errour) thought happy. But then (c) as hee saith, hee saw them east downe in their ex∣•…•…on, and destroyed for their iniquity, and that all their pompe of temporall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was become as a dreame, leauing a man when hee is awake, frustrate of •…•…ed ioyes hee dreamed off. And because they shewed great here vpon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (saith hee) In thy Citty thou shalt make their Image bee held as nothing. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 good it was for him to seek those temporalties at none but Gods hands •…•…weth •…•…aying, I was as a beast before thee, yet was I alwaies with thee as a beast •…•…erstanding. For I should haue desired such goodes as the wicked could not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with mee: but seeing them abound with goods, I thought I had serued thee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 end, when as they that hated thee inioyed such felicity. Yet was I alwaies with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fought no other goddes to begge these thinges vppon. And then it follow∣•…•…. Thou hast holden me by my right hand, thou hast guided me by thy will, and hast as∣•…•… into glory. As if all that which he saw the wicked inioy were belonging 〈◊〉〈◊〉 left hand, though seeing it, he had almost falne. What haue I in heauen but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (sayth he?) And would I haue vpon earth but thee? Then hee doth checke him∣•…•… iustly, for hauing so great a good in Heauen (as afterwards hee vnderstood) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yet begging so transitory, frayle and earthen a thing of God here below: (d) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heart faileth, and my flesh, but God is the God of mine heart. A good fayling, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the lower and elect the loftyer. So that in another Psalme he sayth: My soule •…•…geth and fainteth for the Courtes of the Lord. And in another: My heart fainteth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thy sauing health. But hauing sayd both heart and flesh fainteth: hee reioyned not, The God of mine heart and flesh, but the God of my heart: for it is by the heart that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…sh is cleansed, (as the Lord sayth) Cleanse that which is within, and then that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is without shall be cleane: Then he calleth God his portion, not any thing of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but him-selfe. God is the God of my heart, and my portion for euer. Because 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mens manifold choyces, he chose him only. For (e) behold (saith he) they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…thdraw them-selues from them, shall perish: (f) thou destroyest al them that go 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from thee, that is, that make them-selues prostitute vnto many gods: and then •…•…owes that which is the cause I haue spoken al this of the Psalme: As for me, it is good for mee to adhere vnto GOD, not to withdraw my selfe, nor to goe a