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Of Sin and the healing thereof by Christ.
FOR Andradius, Hosius, Vega the Spaniard, and those others of the same Faction con∣federate with these, seem so to contend about the Righteousness of Charity, that having al∣most banished Faith out of the City of Rome, they place all the parts of our Salvation, or at least the chiefest in Charity and Sanctification. And now by what Scriptures will they demon∣strate that? What, say they, doth not Christ heal us just as the Brazen Serpent healed the Wounds of those that were hurt? Were we not all healed by his stripes? Is not * 1.1 he the Lamb that takes away the sins of the World? Is not he the Life-giving Serpent, who gives cure for our wounds? And what are our Wounds, say they, but Sin? What is the healing of Wounds but the puting away of Sins? What then, shall the Serpent be more power∣ful in fixing his sting, than Christ in taking it out? Shall Alam be more powerful to infect Nature, than Christ to cleanse it? But how is nature purged, if yet the contagion of sin re∣mains? As in a diseased body, unless the hurt∣ful humours are purged off, health is not re∣covered, and as the Air being surrounded on every side with black darkness, begins not to shine, before the brightness of the Sun being returned the darkness vanishes: In like man∣ner