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Chapter 13ParrLament.1.13

The Children of God, and the Excellency of Scripture

The Steadfast Assurance of God’s Children

God’s children, though hated by the world, rest in his election, grace, and fatherly care, and are persuaded that nothing can separate them from his love in Christ.

God's children are not put to shame: although the world hates them, they believe they are in the grace and favor of God, and that he, as the best of fathers, governs them in all things, putting away from them all vain confidence and trust in their own doings.✦ For they know that of themselves they can do nothing but sin.✦ They are not so foolish and childish as to fail to thank God for their election, which was before the beginning of the world; for they believe—most surely—that they are among the chosen, because the Holy Spirit witnesses to their spirit that they are the children of God, and therefore they trust God more than man.✦✦1 They say with St. Paul:✦ Who will separate us from the love of God? Will tribulation, anguish, persecution, hunger, nakedness, peril, or the sword? As it is written: “For your sake we are killed all day long, and are counted as sheep appointed to be slaughtered.”✦ Yet in all these things we overcome through the one who loves us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rule, neither power, neither things present nor things to come, neither quantity nor quality, nor any creature will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.2

Faith That Works and Trusts Alone

True faith neither grows presumptuous nor slacks in good works, but serves as a loving child, rejoices in God, and leans wholly on him and his Church for salvation.

They are not made presumptuous by this godly faith, nor by that same faith do they grow slack, idle, or slow in doing godly works, as worldly people imagine of them; on the contrary, they become all the more fervent in doing the most holy and pure works God has commanded them to walk in.✦3 They do not wander off into human traditions and inventions, leaving undone the most holy and pure precepts of God that they know they are bound to observe and keep. Also, they do not work like hired hands for pay, wages, or reward, but as loving children, with no regard for profit, gain, or hire.4 They live in such freedom of spirit, and rejoice so much in God, that their inward consolation cannot be put into words. All fear of damnation has left them, for they have put their whole hope of salvation in the hands of the One who both wills and is able to accomplish it. Nor do they have any post or pillar to lean on except God and his smooth and unwrinkled Church.5 For he is everything to them in all things, and they lean on him as a most sure, solid pillar in prosperity and adversity, never doubting his promises and covenants, because they believe with full certainty that those will be fulfilled.✦6

The Superiority of Scripture over Human Wisdom

God’s children refuse to elevate human reasoning above Scripture, which is so pure that no human doctrine can add to its perfection.

Also, God's children aren't prying into the high mysteries of God that aren't fit for them to know; nor do they go about interpreting Scripture with human, fleshly reasoning, trying to persuade people—by their clever minds and fleshly teaching—that much knowledge of Scripture makes people heretics unless they mix it with human doctrine, sophistry, philosophy, and logic, by which people are led astray according to human traditions, after the rules of the world, and not after Christ.✦7 St. Paul most carefully warns us which arts aren't proper or fit to be set on equal terms with Scripture, for the Scriptures are so pure and holy that no perfection can be added to them.✦8 For just as fine gold surpasses all other metals, so the Word of God surpasses all human doctrines.

The Prayer for Unity and a Submissive Heart

The writer prays for the Spirit’s fruit of love and unity, then points to Christ’s self-giving obedience as the pattern we cannot follow apart from the constraint of God’s love.

I ask the Lord to send both the learned and the unlearned such an abundance of his Holy Spirit that they may obey and keep the purest, most holy Word of God, and show its fruits, which consist chiefly in love and godly unity—so that, as we have professed one God, one faith, and one baptism, we may all be of one mind and one heart, putting away all biting and tearing at one another. For in backbiting, slandering, and misrepresenting our Christian brothers and sisters, we do not show ourselves to be the disciples of Christ, whom we profess.✦✦910 In him there was the highest love, humility, and patience: he bore—most patiently—every disgrace, rebuke, and slander; he prayed to his eternal Father for his enemies with the most fervent love, and in everything he yielded his will to his Father's, as Scripture bears witness when he prayed on the mountain—a fine example and lesson for us to follow at all times, in good times and bad: to have no will but God's will, entrusting and leaving all our cares and griefs to him, and to abandon all our schemes and inventions, for they are utterly vain and foolish, and indeed nothing but shadows and dreams.✦✦✦✦1112 But we are still so carnal and fleshly that we rush headlong, like unbridled colts without a snaffle or bit.✦ If we had the love of God printed in our hearts, it would hold us back from running astray.✦ And until it pleases God to send us this bit to hold us in, we'll never run the right way, no matter how much we speak and talk of God and his Word.13

Read the original English

The children of God be not abashed: although the world hate them, they believe they are in the grace and favour of God, and that he, as a best Father, doth govern them in all things, putting away from them all vain confidence and trust in their own doings. For they know they can do nothing but sin, of themselves. They be not so foolish and childish not to give God thanks for their election, which was before the beginning of the world; for they believe ─ most surely ─ they be of the chosen, for the Holy Ghost doth witness to their Spirit that they be the children of God, and therefore they believe God better than man. They say with St Paul:

“who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, anguish, persecution, hunger, nakedness, peril or sword? As it is written:

“For thy sake are we killed all day long, and are counted as sheep appointed to be slain.”

Nevertheless, in all these things we overcome, through him that loveth us. For I am sure that neither death, neither life, neither angels nor rule, neither power, neither things present, neither things to come, neither quantity or quality, neither any creature shall be able to depart us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

They are not by this godly faith presumptuously inflamed, nor by the same become they loose, idol or slow in doing of godly works, as carnal men dream of them: so much the more fervent they be in doing most holy and pure works, which God hath commanded them to walk in. They wander not in men’s traditions and inventions ─ leaving the most holy and pure precepts of God undone, which they know they be bound to observe and keep. Also, they work not like hirelings, for meed, wages or reward; but as loving children, without respect of lucre, gain or hire. They be in such liberty of spirit, and joy so much in God, that their inward consolation cannot be expressed with tongue. All fear of damnation is gone from them, for they have put their whole hope of salvation in his hands that will and can perform it. Neither have they any post or pillar to lean to, but God and his smooth and unwrinkled Church.

For he is to them all in all things, and to him they lean: as a most sure square pillar in prosperity and adversity, nothing doubting of his promises and covenants, for they believe most surely they shall be fulfilled. Also, the children of God be not curious in searching the high mysteries of God, which be not meet for them to know; neither do go about with human and carnal reasons to interpret Scripture, persuading men ─ by their subtle wits and carnal doctrine ─ that much knowledge of Scripture maketh men heretics without they temper it with human doctrine, sophistry, philosophy and logic; wherewith to be seduced according to the traditions of men, after the ordinances of the world, and not after Christ. St Paul doth most diligently admonish us which arts are not convenient & meet to be made checkmate with Scripture, for the Scriptures be so pure and holy that no perfection can be added unto them.

For even as fine gold doth excel all other metals, so doth the Word of God all men’s doctrines. I beseech the Lord to send the learned and unlearned such abundance of his Holy Spirit that they may obey and observe the most sincere and holy Word of God, and show the fruits thereof, which consisteth chiefly in charity and godly unity; that as we have professed one God, one faith and one baptism, so we may be all of one mind, and one accord, putting away all biting and gnawing; for in backbiting, slandering, and misreporting our Christian brethren we show not ourselves the disciples of Christ, whom we profess. In him was most high charity, humility and patience; suffering ─ most patiently ─ all ignominy, rebukes and slanders; praying to his eternal Father for his enemies with most fervent charity, and in all things did remit his will to his Father’s, as the Scripture doth witness, when he prayed in the mount: a goodly example and lesson for us to follow at all times and seasons, as well in prosperity as in adversity: to have no will but God’s will, committing and leaving to him all our cares and griefs, and to abandon all our policies and inventions, for they be most vain, and foolish, and indeed very shadows and dreams. But we be yet so carnal and fleshly that we come headlong, like unbridled colts without snaffle or bit.

If we had the love of God printed in our hearts it would keep us back from running astray. And until such time as it please God to send us this bit to hold us in, we shall never run the right way, although we speak and talk never so much of God and his Word.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩John.15.18-John.15.19 — If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. John.15.19 — If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
  2. ↩John.15.5 — I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who abides in me, and I in him, this one bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing.
  3. ↩Eph.1.4 — just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love
  4. ↩Rom.8.16 — The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
  5. ↩Rom.8.35 — Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
  6. ↩Rom.8.35-Rom.8.39 — Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Rom.8.36 — As it is written, 'For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep for slaughter.' Rom.8.37 — No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Rom.8.38 — For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither the present nor the future, nor powers Rom.8.39 — nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord
  7. ↩Eph.2.10 — For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we would walk in them.
  8. ↩1Cor.15.28;Col.3.11 — When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who subjected all things to him, so that God may be all in all. Col.3.11 — where there is no Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free—but Christ is all and in all.
  9. ↩Col.2.8 — See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to human tradition, according to the elemental forces of the world, and not according to Christ.
  10. ↩Col.2.8 — See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to human tradition, according to the elemental forces of the world, and not according to Christ.
  11. ↩Eph.4.4-Eph.4.6 — There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope of your calling. Eph.4.5 — one Lord, one faith, one baptism Eph.4.6 — one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all
  12. ↩Acts.2.46;Phil.2.2;Rom.15.5-Rom.15.6 — Day by day, continuing with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they shared food with gladness and sincerity of heart, Phil.2.2 — then fill up my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, united in soul, intent on one purpose. Rom.15.5 — Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think the same thing among yourselves, according to Christ Jesus, Rom.15.6 — so that with one mind and one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  13. ↩Luke.23.34;Matt.5.44 — Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided his garments by casting lots. Matt.5.44 — But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
  14. ↩Matt.26.39;Mark.14.36;Luke.22.42 — And going forward a little, he fell on his face, praying and saying, 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.' Mark.14.36 — And he was saying, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. But not what I want; what you want.' Luke.22.42 — Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; but not my will, but yours be done.
  15. ↩Ps.55.22;1Pet.5.7 — Smooth are the words from his mouth, but war is in his heart; his speech is softer than oil, yet they are drawn swords. 1Pet.5.7 — Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
  16. ↩Ps.39.6;Ps.73.20 — Surely you have made my days a mere handbreadth, and my lifetime is as nothing before you; surely every person, standing at their strongest, is only a breath. Selah. Ps.73.20 — Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you will despise their image.
  17. ↩Ps.32.9;Jer.5.8;Jas.3.3 — Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle — or it will not come near you. Jer.5.8 — They are well-fed, lustful stallions; each one neighs after his neighbor's wife. Jas.3.3 — Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we also guide their whole body.
  18. ↩Jer.31.33;2Cor.3.3 — But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2Cor.3.3 — being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩Source 'Holy Ghost' rendered as 'Holy Spirit'; 'Spirit' in 'their Spirit' treated as the human spirit receiving that witness (Romans 8:16 pattern).
  2. 2 ↩Early Modern 'depart us from' rendered as 'separate us from' (the clear modern sense). 'Rule' and 'power' kept close to the source's singular abstracts rather than expanded into 'principalities and powers'. 'Quantity or quality' is the source wording (not modernized into 'height nor depth').
  3. 3 ↩Source 'idol' is read as early-modern 'idle' (slack/lazy), which fits the triad with 'loose' and 'slow' about doing godly works; if a different reading is intended, sense would need review.
  4. 4 ↩'Meed' is archaic for reward/recompense; rendered as 'pay' within the hireling cluster so the modern cadence stays plain without dropping the mercenary sense.
  5. 5 ↩Keeps the source's physical metaphor for the Church without blemish; likely alludes to the Church presented without spot or wrinkle.
  6. 6 ↩Source 'square pillar' means a true, solid, well-built pillar; rendered as 'solid pillar' for modern clarity.
  7. 7 ↩Source 'curious' means inquisitively prying, not merely interested; 'temper' means blend or season Scripture with other learning; 'without they' means 'unless they'.
  8. 8 ↩Tudor 'made checkmate with' is a chess metaphor for being set as an equal match or rival against Scripture; rendered as 'set on equal terms with'.
  9. 9 ↩Early modern 'sincere' of the Word means pure/unadulterated more than merely 'honest'; rendered 'purest'.
  10. 10 ↩Source 'charity' is the theological virtue paired with godly unity; rendered 'love' per default lexeme policy while keeping the virtue's force.
  11. 11 ↩'remit his will to his Father's' rendered as 'yielded his will to his Father's' (surrender/submission, not cancel a debt).
  12. 12 ↩Early modern 'policies and inventions' means human schemes and devices; rendered 'schemes and inventions'.
  13. 13 ↩"this bit" continues the prior image of unbridled colts without snaffle or bit (ParrLament.1.13.7.s4): the love of God is the bit that restrains us.

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