[A Paraphrase vppon the epistle of the holie apostle S. Paule to the Romanes ...]

¶ Huldrich Zwinglius, in his frendly exposition to Luther, touching the EVCHARIST, confesseth vvhat he acknowledgeth of Iesus Christ.

I Acknowledge Christ to be according to the saying of the Apostle: Wisedome from God, ryghtuousnesse,* 1.1 sanctification, and redempti∣on. Wisedome, bicause he is by nature God: which not only knoweth all things, but gouerneth thē also. Also wis∣dome from God, for so much as the almightie father sente him vnto vs (not as thoughe he had not bene in the earth before, but that we vnderstande this woorde, sente, for the taking of mannes nature) that he mighte teache the heauenly wisedome so perfectly and cleare∣ly, that whatsoeuer he had taughte, that should be finally the figure of true wisedome. Whereupon, euen Paule confesseth him self also, to know nothing, but Christ Iesus, and him cru∣cified. Which thing that most discret man would neuer haue saide. If he had not perceiued all aboundance of wisedome and knowledge to be in him, as he witnesseth in the seconde to the Colossians. Wisedom from God:* 1.2 that we might know of suretie thereby, that none externe things can iustifie: The which thing is manifest, both by all his life and doctrine.* 1.3 For what externe things be there, but he hath disanulled them? Is there any place? For when he communed with the woman, he shewed that it shuld come to passe, that men should neither woorshippe in the Mount Garizim, neither yet at Ierusalem.* 1.4

But that the true worshippers should worship euery where in spirit and truth. And he admonished his disciples, that to what place soeuer they shuld be sent to find Christ there, they shuld not come at it.* 1.5 Is there any time but he hathe disanulled it? for he saith that the Sabothe was made for man, and not man for the Sabothe: And teacheth that a man muste pray at all times.* 1.6 Is there any persone? but all they (sayeth he) that haue come before me, are robbers and théeues. And he called y^e pre∣tēce of those prayers which the religious mē (among y^e Iewes) made for the common people and idiots, for stipends and wa∣ges, he called it (I say) nets and wayes deuised to catch mens mony and goods. To be short, he so taught that there is no man that hath witte, but he séeth that he wente about this that we should trust to the Lorde, and serue him in holinesse and inno∣cencie of life. And whereas through the faulte and calamitie, which destroyed our nature at the beginning, we be so tyed to affections, that we doe none of those things which God requi∣reth of vs, rightly, and as we ought to do: It commeth also to passe, that the iustice of God feareth vs on the other side. For howsoeuer we call him good and mercifull, yet are we compel∣led to acknowledge him to be iust also. Neither shoulde it bée truely good that lacked iustice. Now that his iustice also might continue inuiolate, and yet man, which doth nothing worthy of iustice, should not euer be depriued of his companie, he found a way, by the which both his iustice should be satisfied, and the poore miser restored again to the company of God. He sent his sonne therfore, which should be made our iustice, sanctification and price of Redemption, and for them onely to be so made, which being chosen of God, and taught within forth by his spi∣rite, beléeued this firmly, that by one way of the mercy of God (for that he pacyfied his iustice by offring his sonne, it is lyke∣wise the work of mercie) the way should be open vnto eternal blessednesse: nowe of this mercie his sonne is made the pledge and suretie. For howe shall he not giue vs all things, which hath giuen vs his sonne? Not being eaten, but made the foun∣dation our hope: Not in that he is fleshe, but in that he is the sonne of God, that tooke fleshe. Thus thou hast in few wordes,

howe I knowledge Christe. Namely, that he is the light, and moste high wisedome: which hathe so lightned the worlde, that he mighte sée God to be pleased with none other seruices, than with the seruice of innocencie. That heauen is wonne with none other price, or tribute, but with the redemption of the sonne of God. That a man is stirred vp to the exercise of true vertue with none other spurres, than by the inflammation of the spirit. That true comfort is brought into our soules by no other instruments, then by the watring & influ∣ence, of the same spirite: Thus I know Christ. Nowe if this be not to knowe Christe earnestly, I will confesse me not to haue knowne him yet.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Corin. 1.
• * 1.2

  Collos. 2.
• * 1.3

  No iustifica∣tion in any externe thing.
• * 1.4

  No place.
• * 1.5

  No time.
• * 1.6

  No person.