The whole body of Christian religion, by Hieron. Zanchius. Translated out of Latine by D. Ralph Winterton.

CHAP. IX. Concerning the Promise of Redemption and Salvation through Christ.

DOCTRINE I. That Christ the heavenly man was of grace promised to save us.

WHena 1.1 the first man, which was of the earth earthy, wasb 1.2 fallen into such a miserable estate and condition by his own fault through disobedience; and not he onely, but together with him all his posteritie, which sinned in him, and were to bec 1.3 conceived in sin, & to be bornd 1.4 the children of wrath: We believe, that God of his mere grace and mercie to Adam and Eve, and in them to all mankind,e 1.5 promised an∣other manf 1.6 from heaven, of the true substance of man indeed, but to

bea 1.7 conceived without the seed of man, and therefore to beb 1.8 born of a Virginc 1.9 without sinne: in whom as in another head of mankind, con∣sisting of a divine and humane na∣ture, being the true &d 1.10 expresse image of God the Father, and filled with the holy Ghost that might be ful∣filled, which in the first head suc∣ceeded not through his own fault, that is, That he the second man in our name and for us, which were to bee 1.11 grafted into him by his Spirit, and by spirituall generation to bef 1.12 flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones, might most perfectlyg 1.13 obey God the Father, and by hish 1.14 obe∣dience and death take away sinne, appease the wrath of God, redeem us, justifie us, sanctifie us, rule us by his Spirit, set us at libertie, give us grace and strength to that which is good, and finally save us unto everlasting life and glorifie us.

DOCT. II. That the Promise, Concerning the Re∣demption by Christ, was necessarie.

FOr Adam, not as a private per∣son, but as the parent and root

of all mankind, as he was indued at the first with righteousness, that he might propagate it unto all his poste∣ritie as in an inheritance; for which cause it is commonly called Origi∣nall righteousness: So by his dis∣obedience, he hath transmitted unto all men great unrighteousnesse in stead of righteousnesse, and eternall death in stead of life eternall. Neces∣sarie therefore was it, that there should be another head, that is, Christ from whom by reason of his obedience there might be derived on all his members true and heavenly righteousnesse, holinesse, and life.

DOCT. III. To what end the Promise was made pre∣sently after that the sinne was committed.

WE believe, That therefore the promise was presently after the sinne committed, made from the be∣gining of the world, and afterwards by the holy fathers was often repea∣ted, expounded, and confirmed, by divers wayes signes and seales. That not only we, which have been since

the coming of the Messias; but also all others from the foundations of the world, as many as should believe this promise, and by true faith em∣brace Christ to come: might also be made partakers of redemption, justi∣fication, and salvation.

DOCT. IV. That, from the beginning of the world, as many as believed on Christ to come, were saved.

WE believe, That from the be∣ginning of the world as many as believed on Christ promised and to come, they were grafted into him by faith; they were made partakers of his future obedience, passion, death, and redemption; they did eate his body which was afterwards to be delivered, and drink his bloud which was afterwards to be powred out; and last of all, they were all Christians indued with the Spirit of Christ, and saved unto everlasting life, no lesse then we are.

DOCT. V. Errours condemned.

ANd further we condemne and de∣test their opinon which hold that no man was saved before the coming of Christ; and that the Fathers which were before, received no promise of eternall salvation, but onely of things temporall.

Notes

• a 1.1

  1 Cor. 15.47.
• b 1.2

  Gen. 3.17.
• c 1.3

  Psalm. 5••.5.
• d 1.4

  Eph. 2.3.
• e 1.5

  Gen 3.15. Matt. 1.21.
• f 1.6

  1 Cor. 15.47.
• a 1.7

  Luk. 1.34.
• b 1.8

  Isa. 7.14. Matt. 1.23. Luk. 1.34.
• c 1.9

  Heb. 4.15.
• d 1.10

  Heb. 1.3.
• e 1.11

  Rom. 6.5.11.7.
• f 1.12

  Eph. 5.29.
• g 1.13

  Rom. 5.19.
• h 1.14

  Phil. 2.8.