The xvij. Chapter. Of Christ, and his manifestation in the flesh; and by what meanes he performed all the parts of our saluation.
¶ Looke the dialog of both natures in Christ. Of Christs person, death, and resurrection, looke 3. sermons, and the epistle vnto the brethren of Poland.
When as I was come thus far forward, there happened into my hands (which I had in vaine sought long before) our authors exposition vpon the apostolicall Creed, written in his owne naturall language. 1 The which D. Peter Martyr, diuorsing himselfe from the dregs of poperie, set foorth, when he departed out of Italie: as Master Iosias Simlerus testifieth in his life. The same, for so much as (to my knowledge) it was not yet extant in Latine, set foorth in this maner, I thought it would be both pleasant and profitable to the readers, that it might come to light: a few things being cut off, bicause they were both largelier, and more exactlie treated of in another place. Further, as touching the causes of departing from poperie, looke the second epistle.
VNdoubtedlie, 2 GOD is trulie said to come to vs manie waies; 3 but yet properlie and speciallie, the sonne of God, which is the true God, came in the nature of man to saue mankind. For, although God be in euerie place; yet we saie, that he came; bicause he put vpon him the nature of man: and thus we saie he came vnto vs, and presented himselfe vnto vs; both the Father, the Sonne, and the holie Ghost. Bicause, albeit that the works of the Trinitie, as touching inward matters be particular: as, to beget, to inspire, to procéed; (for these things are doone by the diuine power, which is common vnto the thrée persons:) yet the same, as concerning outward things, are inseparable. Then wilt thou saie; Wherefore is the sonne onlie said to be incarnate? Here two things are to be considered of vs; namelie, the action and the worke. As touching the worke it selfe, Christ alone tooke vpon him the nature of man; sith that nature is ioined with the onelie substance of the sonne. But with the action both the father and the holie Ghost had to doo: for the efficient cause, and the action perteined vnto the thrée persons. And that may be prooued by the scriptures, insomuch as Esaie saith; 4 The Lord and his spirit hath sent me. 5 And Paule to the Galathians; When the fulnesse of time was come, God sent his owne sonne. 6 And in Luke the angel saith; The holie Ghost shall come vpon thee, & the power of the highest shall ouershadow thee. And afterward, as it is in Matthew; 7 She was found great with child by the holie Ghost. By these testimonies it appeareth, that Christ was sent, both by the Father, and by the holie Ghost.
Besides this, the sonne himselfe was the cause of his owne comming. Indéed that might séeme to be a hard matter, that one and the same thing should both be the efficient cause, and the effect: yet may it be proued manie waies. For first, as touching sanctification, in the tenth chapter of Iohn it is thus read; Whom the fathers sent and sanctified, 8 doo ye saie that he blasphemeth, bicause he saith; I am the sonne of GOD? Afterward, in the 17. chapter, Christ againe saith; For their sakes sanctifie I my selfe. 9 The verie same may be said as touching the death of Christ: for Paule vnto the Romans, 10 writeth; Who spared not his owne sonne, but gaue him for all our sakes. 11 And to the Galathians he saith; Who loued me, and gaue himselfe for me. The same also is said touching the resurrection, séeing Paule vnto the Romans saith; He that hath raised vp Iesus Christ from the dead, 12 shall also raise vp your mortall bodies. But Christ himselfe in Iohn saith; 13 Destroie ye this temple, and I will in three daies reedifie the same. Againe; I haue power to laie downe my life, and to take it againe. And; By him all things were made. 14 The same also we may saie of the incarnation of Christ: for Paule vnto the Galathians, saith; When the fulnesse of time was come, 15 God sent his owne sonne. The same apostle to the Philippians saith; He made himselfe of no reputation, 16 taking vpon him the forme of a seruant. We sée therefore, that it appeareth sufficientlie by the holie scriptures, that Christ was both the efficient cause, and the effect. Wherefore, there were thrée that came, as touching the efficient cause; although the worke it selfe did perteine onlie to the sonne. Of this matter writeth Augustine at large, in his second booke De trinitate, the fourth chapter; and against Foelix the Arrian, chapter 24.: to prooue, that Christ is both the efficient cause, and the worke. And as concerning that, which Christ speaketh of himselfe in Iohn; 17 namelie, I came not of my selfe, must either be filled vp, with adding this one word, Onelie: as if he had said; I came not onelie of my selfe: or else it is to be vnderstood touching his humane nature.