Letters to the Churches

Came this blessednesse then vpon the circumcision onely, or vpon the vncircumcision also? For we say, that faith was imputed vnto Abraham for righteousnesse.

Howe was it then imputed? when he was circumcised, or vncircumcised? not when he was cricumcised, but when he was vncircumcised.

After, he receiued the signe of circumcision, as the seale of the righteousnesse of ye faith which he had, when he was vncircumcised, that he should be the father of all them that beleeue, not being circumcised, that righteousnesse might be imputed to them also,

And the father of circumcision, not vnto them onely which are of the circumcision, but vnto them also that walke in the steppes of the faith of our father Abraham, which he had when he was vncircumcised.

For the promise that he should be the heire of the worlde, was not giuen to Abraham, or to his seede, through the Lawe, but through the righteousnesse of faith.

For if they which are of the Lawe, be heires, faith is made voide, and the promise is made of none effect.

For the Lawe causeth wrath: for where no Lawe is, there is no transgression.

Therefore it is by faith, that it might come by grace, and the promise might be sure to all the seede, not to that onely which is of the Lawe: but also to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of vs all,

(As it is written, I haue made thee a father of many nations) euen before God whom he beleeued, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those thinges which be not, as though they were.

Which Abraham aboue hope, beleeued vnder hope, that he should be the father of many nations: according to that which was spoken to him, So shall thy seede be.

And he not weake in the faith, considered not his owne bodie, which was nowe dead, being almost an hundreth yeere olde, neither the deadnes of Saraes wombe.

Neither did he doubt of the promise of God through vnbeliefe, but was strengthened in the faith, and gaue glorie to God,

Being fully assured that he which had promised, was also able to doe it.

And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousnesse.

Nowe it is not written for him onely, that it was imputed to him for righteousnesse,

But also for vs, to whom it shalbe imputed for righteousnesse, which beleeue in him that raised vp Iesus our Lord from the dead,

Who was deliuered to death for our sinnes, and is risen againe for our iustification.

Then being iustified by faith, we haue peace toward God through our Lord Iesus Christ.

By who also through faith, we haue had this accesse into this grace, wherein we stand, and reioyce vnder ye hope of the glory of God.

Neither that onely, but also we reioyce in tribulations, knowing that tribulation bringeth forth patience,

And patience experience, and experience hope,

And hope maketh not ashamed, because the loue of God is shed abroade in our heartes by the holy Ghost, which is giuen vnto vs.

For Christ, when we were yet of no strength, at his time died for the vngodly.

Doutles one will scarce die for a righteous man: but yet for a good man it may be that one dare die.

But God setteth out his loue towards vs, seeing that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for vs.