THE SVMME OF
THE NEW TESTAMENT.
THAT which was the summe of the Old Testament, to wit: Christ and his Church, as S. Augustine saith, catechizing the ignorant: the very same is the summe of the New Testament also. For (as the same S. Augustine saith againe) In the Old Testament there is the occultation of the New: and in the New Testament there is the manifestation of the Old. And in an other place: In the Old doth the New lye hidden, and in the New doth the Old lye open. And thervpon our Sauiour said: I am not come to breake the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them. For assuredly I say vnto you, til heauen and earth passe, one iot or one title shal not passe of the Law, til all be fulfilled. In which wordes he sheweth plainely, that the New Testament is nothing els but the fulfilling of the Old.
Therfore to come to the partes: The Gospels doe tell of Christ him selfe (of whom the Old Testament did fortel) and that euen from his coming into the world, vnto his going out therof againe. The Actes of the Apostles doe tel of his Church beginning at Hierusalem the head citie of the Iewes, and of the propagation therof to the Gentiles and their head citie Rome. And, the Apocalypse doth prophecie of it, euen to the consummation therof, which shal be in the end of the world. The Epistles of the Apostles do treat partly of such questions as at that time were moued, partly of good life and good order.
The Summe of the 4 Gospels.
THE Ghospels doe tel historically the life of our Lord Iesus, shewing plainely, that he is Christ or the king of the Ievves, whom vntil then, al the time of the Old Testament, they had expected: and withal, that they of their owne mere malice and blindne (the iniquitie beginning of the Seniors, but at the length the multitude also consenting) would not receaue him, but euer sought his death: which for the Redemption of the world, he at length permitted them to compasse, they deseruing thereby most iustly to be refused of him, and so his Kingdom or Church to be taken away from them, and giuen to the Gentils. For the gathering of which Church after him, he chooseth Twelue, and appointed one of them to be the cheefe of al, with instructions both to them and him accordingly.
The storie hereof is written by foure: who in Ezechiel and in the Apocalypse are likened to foure liuing creatures, euery one according as his booke beginneth. S.
