And for this cause is he the mediator of y• new testament, that through death which chanced for the redempcion of those transgressyōs that were vnder the first testamente they whych are called, myght receiue y• promise of eternal inheritance. For where as is, a testament, there must also (of necessytie) be the death of hym that maketh the testament. For the testament taketh aucthorite when men are dead: for it is yet of no value, as longe as he that maketh the testament is aliue, for whyche cause also, nether the first testamēt was or dayned wythout bloude.
Bycause that he who in the olde testament made intercession and was a me∣diatour bytwene God and men broughte not the people to the perfyte state of innocencie, therefore Christe succeded in his rowme, and became a newe media∣toure of a newe testament, to thentent that all synnes taken awaye thorow his death (the whiche by that first testament coulde not be abolyshed and taken a∣waye, but remayned, in suche wise that they broughte vs oute of the fauoure of almyghtie God) not onely the Iewes, but also all tho whosoeuer haue bene called to Christes felowshippe, maye nowe thorowe the doctrine of the gospell receyue the promyse and hope of theternall enheritaunce. For wheresoeuer thys worde testament is hearde, there must nedes be the death of him that ma∣keth the testamente, elles shoulde it be no testamente, or yf it were, it were of none auctoritie. For the death of the testatoure makethe the same of aucto∣ritie whiche hathe not as yet sure strengthe nor is ratifyed so longe as the sayde testatour is alyue. Because it lyeth in hys power to altre it yf he wyll: Wherefore forasmuche as that olde testament hadde also the name of a testa∣ment, it was not ordeyned without bloude and death, but of a beast, and suche a beaste as elswise shoulde haue perished.