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A comparison which sheweth in what the benefit which mankind hath received from God by Jesus Christ, doth consist.
A Certain great Kings Vassals rebelled against him, for their rebellion he condemned them to death, deprived them of their goods, drove them out of his kingdome; being condemned, deprived, and driven out, they set themselves to serve other kings, strangers, and enemies to their naturall King.
Things standing thus for some space of time, the King that was benigne toward his vassalls, desiring to reduce unto his kingdome those that went wandring, and banished, first of all he executed the rigour of his justice upon his one∣ly Sonne, and afterward he sent to make pub∣lick proclamation throughout the whole world, in the which he declared, that his justice was already satisfied, and that he generally pardon∣ed all those that had rebelled against him, ex∣horting them to return unto his kingdome, and promising unto them entire restitution of that which they had lost.
They which were culpable in the rebellion heard this proclamation, of which some pre∣tending that they had not run thereinto, would not accept the pardon; it seeming unto them that accepting it they should make themselves to have been rebels: Others, although they knew themselves rebels, would not give credit to the proclamation, it seeming to them too strange a thing, that the King should pardon them, because his Sonne had been obedient to him. Likewise some others, although they knew themselves rebels, although they held the pro∣clamation for certain, although they took co∣pies of it, and they themselves published it, notwithstanding all this, they dared not to re∣turn unto the kingdome, but rather by all wayes & means possible to them, they bestirred them∣selves
to obtain pardon of the King with servi∣ces, gifts, and presents; by no means willing to enjoy the Kings liberality, or the obedience of the Kings Son: And so not coming to the king∣dome, their estates were not restored unto them, and so neither these nor those other enjoyed the generall pardon; in such sort that as much as belonged to them, it was no more then if it had never been made. There were some others, who knowing themselves rebels, and giving entire credit to the proclamation, having confidence in the Kings word, accepted the pardon generall, and came unto the kingdome, submitting them∣selves in all things, and altogether unto the re∣giment of their own King. And although at the beginning they doubted somewhat of the par∣don, and so much the more, as they saw that their estates were not presently restored unto them; notwithstanding, they resolving not to depart from the kingdome, and seeing that the King used them well, and that by little and little, he went on restoring unto them that which they had lost by their rebellion; they likewise went on, certifying themselves to have obtained the pardon, and found themselves most contented in having come to serve their own King, and to abide under his regiment and go∣vernment.
And because they had proved the evil of re∣bellion, and of banishment, they did deprive
and dispoyl themselves of all friendship, and of all intelligences with men, and of all their own proper designes, which according to their opini∣ons might make them another time rebels. In this they employed and exercised themselves; whereupon by little and little they gained so much credit with the King, that not onely he restored unto them all that which they had lost by their rebellion, but he gave them many great gifts, and he used them in that manner, as if so be they had never been rebels.
This is the Comparison: and although it be of it self clear, I will not cease to declare it a little better, and say, That the first man being in the kingdome of God, created to the image and likenesse of God, rebelled against God, for which rebellion he was deprived of this image and likenesse of God, he was driven out of the kingdome of God, and he was condemned un∣to death; and in this banishment all mankind abode, serving the devil a long while.
God willing of his infinite mercy to remedy this evil, first of all executed the rigour of his justice upon his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and afterward sent to preach throughout all the world, how that now his justice was satisfied, and how that he had now pardoned all them that were rebels, and that they might at their pleasures return unto the kingdome, out of which they were driven, and that he would restore un∣to
them his own image and likenesse, which they had lost. This Proclamation hath been heard throughout the whole world. And of mankind some holding themselves Saints and just, have imagined that the pardon belongs not to them; it seeming to them, that where there is no errour there needs no pardon; and so they have let it passe. Others, although they hold themselves for rebels, yet trust not to the par∣don, it seeming to them a thing too too strange, that God should pardon them and receive them into his kingdome, and restore unto them that which they had lost by rebellion, for anothers justice and obedience.
There are others, who albeit they know them∣selves rebels, and although they hold the par∣don for certain, and embrace the Gospel, and read it, and preach it; yet for all this they can∣not bring themselves to enter into the kingdome of God, because they have more confidence in themselves then in God; and so they will rather stay under the government of their humane prudence, then come unto the kingdome of God. These think they ought to gain the pardon of their rebellion with their industry, and dili∣gence, and with their merits. And because as well they as those others, come not to the king∣dome of God, they feel not the benefit thereof, nor enjoy the liberality of God, nor the obedi∣ence of Christ. And unto this estate they are
brought through their own arrogancy and pre∣sumption, and so by this means continue alwaies in their rebellion. There are others who know themselves rebels to God, and do give entire faith and credit unto the pardon generall, which is preached unto them on Gods behalf in the Gospel, and so instantly without further be∣thinking accepting the pardon, they come unto the kingdome of God, renouncing the king∣dome of the world, and the government of hu∣mane prudence. And albeit these at first may seem to make some kind of doubt, doubt of the pardon, doubt of the government and regiment of God; yet in as much as they depart not from the kingdome, they go on certifying themselves both in the one and the other of these matters; and so much the more, as they feel that God pro∣ceeds in restoring unto them that image and likenesse of God, which the first man lost by his rebellion, with all those other priviledges which were lost by the same rebellion.
And because the principall punishment of the rebellion was death, albeit he do not deliver them from temporall death, for they die as well as others; yet he delivers them from eternall death, promising them the resurrection, and giving them a signall thereof, by the inward vivification and by the resurrection of Christ.
And these men live in the height of chearful∣nesse, attending onely to mortifie their wisdome,
and their humane reason, and all those other things that led them to their fore-passed rebelli∣on, and which might lead them on to the like. In this they abide, in this they persevere, and so they go getting so much favour of God, that he doth not onely cause them to feel the pardon, and that happinesse which is to be in his king∣dome, and to possesse the image of God in it; but he doth many other graces and favours un∣to them, accepting them for his sonnes.
This kingdome begins in this present life, and is continued in that which is to come. And all this felicity those persons do acknowledge from the liberality of God, from the obedience of his onely begotten Sonne Jesus Christ our Lord.