The fift Chapter. Of peace and Christian libertie; where also is intreated of offense of the conscience, and especiallie of the choise of meates.
¶ Touching apparell of the Ministers of the church, looke in the 34. 36. 38. 39. & 40. epistles, in the end of this booke.
1 THe summe of the preaching of the Gospell is peace, especiallie with God: for they which doo preach (as the apostle teacheth in the latter epistle to the Corinthians) bring with them the words of reconciliation. Neither exhort they anie thing else, but that we should be reconciled vnto God through Christ. God in times past, was angrie with mankind, he punished and condemned them, he reiected their praiers and their works: and although they were notable, yet did he abhorre them; bicause they were the works of his enimies. And on the other side, men were not onelie miserable, but also they hated euen God himselfe; they wished that there might be no GOD, they detested his iudgements, and fled from him as from a tyrant and cruell executioner; for that their owne conscience on euerie side accused them. 2 But the Gospell preacheth peace and reconciliation through Christ. This is it which the angels did sing at the birth of Christ; Glorie on high, peace on earth, and good will towards men. The angels aprooued this worke of God, which had decréed by his sonne to redéeme mankind. And this their praise and commendation, is the glorie of God. Moreouer, forsomuch as we now through Christ be reconciled vnto God, we obteine peace inwardlie as touching our mind: for being renewed by grace and the spirit, we lead an vpright life; neither doo our wicked affections turmoile vs anie more, our conscience reprooueth vs not, neither are our harts, by furious rages stirred vp to perturbations. Further, we wish well, and doo good vnto our neighbours, as vnto our selues, and liue in peace with them, and that most firmelie.
Neither is this anie let, which Christ said; I came not to send peace vpon the earth: 3 for that peace is to be vnderstood as touching the peace of the flesh, and of the world. For with the peace of the Gospell, whereof we now intreat, are ioined great perils and discommodities of the flesh; persecutions, and losse of goods doo straitwaie assaile vs. 4 Goodnesse (as the philosophers saie) is that, which althings desire. And to declare the nature thereof more at large and plainlie; all things are good, so farre foorth as in them there is a certeine respect deriued towards vs, that they are either profitable, commodious, or plesant to our vses. But through the power of the Gospell, we obteine this benefit, that all things are made to serue vs; 5 All things (saith Paule) are yours, whether it be life, or death, or Paule, or Cephas; and we are Christs, and Christ is Gods. Againe; To them that loue God, 6 all things worke to good. And that which Esaie taught is to be noted; to wit, 7 That by these messengers deliuerance must be preached. For although that death, misfortunes, pouertie, diseases, and such other kind of euils, doo still vexe vs; yet are we said to be deliuered from them by Christ: bicause they haue not anie longer the nature of punishments. For all these disco~modities of the flesh, God hath by his death and crosse sanctified: so that they haue no more in them the respect of punishment; but vnto vs are made instructions, fatherlie chastisements, victories, triumphes, and notable acts.
2 But to omit nothing, 8 we ought not to be ignorant & that in the Hebrue toong Schalom, that is, Peace, signifieth Happines of things: so that, whereas the Gréeks saie, ⟨…⟩, or ⟨…⟩ in the superscription of their letters; the Hebrues vse to write Schalom, that is, Peace. And so, séeing the Euangelists doo pronounce peace, they preach perfect and true happinesse. And if thou demand wherein consisteth such a peace, goodnesse, and deliuerance; we answer, 9 that (to speake bréeflie) it consisteth in the kingdome of God. Therefore Christ, when he sent his disciples to preach, willed them to preach, that The kingdome of heauen is at hand. The selfe-same dooth Esaie saie, when he writeth; And they shall saie vnto Sion, Thy God reigneth. Hitherto hath sinne reigned: wherefore Paule said; 10 Let not sinne reigne in your mortall bodie. 11 Death also hath reigned: for the same apostle saith; Death hath reigned from Adam euen vnto Moses. The diuell also hath reigned, whom the Lord calleth The prince of this world: and Paule, 12 The gouernour of this world, and the god of this world. All these things haue hitherto miserablie exercised their tyrannie ouer vs: but now the Lord reigneth.