The grace of Christ commeth freely and not for merues sake August de câ—uitate dei lib. 14. cap. 1 August de spiritu et litera cap. 18 Ibidem Cap. 13. By fayth to Iesus Christ we are iustified IbideÌ„ in Psal 31. No merits but mercy preueâ—ed out iustification August in expositione 2. Psal 31. IbideÌ„ in Psal 18. We are frely iustified in the bloud of Christ God of hys owne mercy hath saued vs. IdeÌ„ in Psal 5. IdeÌ„ in Psal 142. God for the glory of hys names ake doth freelye sane vs by his grace and mercy Idem de teÌ„pore sermone 49. Ambro. de vocatio gent. libro 1. cap. 5. Ad valent epist. 46 Idem lib. 2. homiliarum homilia 14 Augustine calleth such heretikes as ascribe grace to merite August Sexto epist. 105. Aug. Valentino et fratribus epist. 46 Contra duas epist. pelagionorum Lib. 1 IdeÌ„ ad Sextum Rom. praesi epist. 105. Idem libro 3. contra pelag hipognast cap. 37. De compuâ—tions cordis The reasoning of the aduersarirs Man is iustified thorow fayth wythout workes Rom. 3. Gal. 2. 25y works no man liuing shal be iustified Peter Lom bard Hilla lib. 4. de trinitate Hier. in epist. ad Gal. Cap. 1. The 〈…〉 e of the scripture consisteth not in the wordes but in the meaning of the same Workes folow iustification Fayth apprehendeth righteousnes and workes declare the apprehension Good workes declare vs to bee righteous Fayth apprehendeth Christ by whom we are made righteous The meaning of S. Iames wordes Note here the maner of speaking of S. Iames. Fayth with out workes is a dead fayth True fayth cannot be without good fruites Abrahams fayth had fruites S. Iames enueigheth not agaynst a true fayth but against a fayned false fayth Math. 19 The keping of the commaundementes of God were hable to iustify vs if we were hable to obserue them Leuit. 18 No man hath nor can keepe the lawes as God requireth them to be kept A questyon moued by a lawyer vnto Christ Christes aunswer to the lawiers question Luk. 5. This is a hard speeche to the louers of the worlde An other argument of the Papistes The Papistes accompte Christ to be very weake that beyng able to iustif 〈…〉 a man before he was conuerted were not also able to restore him if he fell after he was regenerate Hebr. 6. Hebr. 10 Luk. 12. 1. Iho. 2 Christ is our iustification both before Baptisme and after An other obiection The aunswere Rom. 4. Fayth doth iustify because it apprehendeth Christes iustification 1. Cor. 13. Fayth hope and loue Obiection Aunswere Loue fulfilleth the law Fayth is the instrument wherby we receaue our iustification by Christ An other obiection Aunswere Our iustification is done by Christ before our workes God worketh to saluation only in his children that is in the iustified God by his owne working and not be ours maketh vs his children All good workes are wrought by God in them that are iustified by fayth Psal 7. Psal 18 The righteous being vnder the mercilesse persecution lament and 〈…〉 e. The righteous cry out that they are no such offendours as the wicked report them to be The righteous offer the innocency of their causes to the iudge ment seat of god Dauid reioiceth that he held hys hand and hart from committing of wickednes against Saul 1. Sam. 20. The innoceÌ„cy of Dauid in respect of Saules crueltie Psal 51. Psal 38. 130. Psal 19. Psal 32. God must haue the whole honor of maÌ„s saluation IustificatioÌ„ why it is imputed to fayth and not to workes Eph. 2. No worke may be don vpon hope of reward 1. Cor. 11. August in epist. 1. IohaÌ„ nis tract Aduersus Iudaeos erat one The Table wherein note these two letters a. b. a. signifieth the first side of the leafe and b. the second A. ABrahams faith had frutes 112. b Adam created 1. a Adam deceaued by Eue hys wife 4. b Adam accuseth his wife 6. a Adam the firste man made vs bond and thrall vnto sinne 44. a Adams disobedience hath corrupted all mankynd 12. a. b Anavaptistes Pelagians and Papistes 11. b Argumentes made by the Papistes of good workes aunswered 95. a. b. 107. a. 115. a. 116. a. b. 117. a B BLasphemye to Christes death and passion 68. a C CHrist onely taketh away the sinnes of the world 19. a Christe the sonne of God was made man and borne of the virgine Mary 42. a Christ was perfect God perfect man. 43. b Christe is very righteousnes it selfe 43. a Christ is our Aduocate to the father 44. b Christe is our iustification both before Baptisme and after 116. b Christe the seconde man hath made vs free froÌ„ sinns 44. a Christe became accursed to make vs blessed 44. b Christ had payd the full taunsome of mannes transgression 44. a Christe iustifieth vs before we worke 119. a Conflictes attende continually vpon true fayth 81. b Corrupte doctrine of the Papistes 29. b D DAuid reioysed in hys innocency 121. a. b Death hath power ouer the vnrighteous 7. b Death hath power ouer the whole nature of man. 7. b Death is dew to all sinne 17. a Death and damnatioÌ„ reigneth ouer euery man. 19. b Deadly sinne excludeth fayth 17. a Deadly sinne veniall sinne what difference 18. a DefinitioÌ„ of actuall sinne 16. a Definition of veniall sinne 16. b Definition of loue 25. b. 26. a Definition of the law 29. a Degrees of perfection 29. b Definition of habite 49 b DefinitioÌ„ of fayth 56. b. 57. a. b Definition of workes 65. a. b. DefinitioÌ„ of iustification 62. b Definition of woorkes of the faythfull 84. b Difference betwene originall and actuall sinne 19. a Deuill is the enemy of mans felicitie 4. a Deuill and God there is no middle estate betwene them 67. a Deuill an enmie to vertuous lyfe 81. a Duetie or debt hath two senses or meanynges 101. a E. EDen the garden wherein man was placed at his first creation 1. a Errors of Papistes about workes 66. b Eue the woman was goueÌ„ vnto man to be his helper 1. b Eue deceiued by the deuil 4. b Exposition of this place of Iohn we haue receued grace for grace 48. b F. FAyth and deadly sinne can not stand together 17. b Fayth onely apprehendeth the promises of God. 47. a Fayth diuerslye taken in the Scriptures 55. b. 56. a Fayth what the scholemen thinke of it 56. a Fayth onely attayneth instification 70. a Fayth onely iustifieth proued by the Scriptures and anâ— cient fathers 70. b. 71. a. b 72. a. b. 73. a. b. 74. a. b. 75. a. b 76. a. b. 77. a. b. 78. a. b Fayth is not the efficient cause of our iustification but God onely 78. b. 79. a Fayth is aceompanied wyth newnes of life 79. b. 80. a. b 81. a Faythe is made knowne by good workes 82. a Fayth hope and loue 118. a Fayth is the instrument wherby we receyue iustification 118. b
father and in respect of which wée are beloued of the father is also called grace for Iohn sayth we haue receaued grace for grace that is we are receaued into the grace of God the father for that grace or fauour whiche he beareth vnto Christ his sonne And this is the thyrd and last signification of grace which being shewed it séemeth not inconuenyent to note somwhat agayne of the pestilent doctryne of your abusing deceauers concernyng grace séeing their errour about the same is the mother and nursse of that presumptuous traytor and ambitious rebell I meane the doctrine â—fiustification of woorkes whiche to fill the pursses of the wicked spoyleth the Maiestie of God of the finall end of hys labour namelye of the triumph and glory of hys free and bountifull fauour and maketh the treasure of the death of Chryst of vyle and contemned price Wherefore to the hatchyng of their hainous errours about the effectes thereof necessytie constrayned them to deuise false and counterfayte matter or substaunce or the ground of the same accordyng whereunto they thus define it Gratia est habitus a deo in animam infusus bonitatis et charitatis eius similis quo illum habens gratus deo redditur et facit opera illigrata et meritoria Grace is an habyte lyke vnto the goodnesse and loue of God by hym infused into the miride wherewyth hee that doth possesse it is made acceptable to God and woorketh workes both merytorious and acceptable vnto hym For the vnderstandyng of the whiche definytion it is necessary first to shew what they meane by thys woorde habyte wherefore any propertye or qualytye whyche by infusion education exercise custome or any other way is perfectly attayned is called habyte whereby this definition euen at the first taste sauoureth of the soyle that bred it for in the whole Scriptures of God there remayneth not so muche as the cooloure of proofe hereof that the genus or generall woorde vnto that grace wherby wée are saued should be an habite of the mynde that is to say a qualitye by education exercyse or infusion made perfect in mynde Thys diuinitie is pycked out of Aristotles Ethickes where it is taught that the habilityes powers of the mynde are strengthened by habit that is to say by a perfection therein attayned through exercise made easye and ready to be performed whyche wythout the same were very difficulte or not to be done Whiche beyng considered I thynke it not amysse somewhat to note the treacherye of thys their heythenesse definityon wyth shewes beautified to the sale beyng in déede nothyng els but a paynted sepulchre conteyning onely a stynckyng caryon of Pelagius filthy and corrupt heresie thoughe aboue all thynges they must séeme to dissent from hym and hys doctrine And therefore at the first in that they affirme grace to be an habite infused into the mynde they thereby thinke with a pleasaunt profer in the begynnyng to dasell the eyes of the worlde from suspition of their ioynyng handes with hym the substaunce of whose heresye beyng well weyed is neuerthelesse one and the same wyth this doctrine wherefore great connyng was to be vsed in this matter seing hys hatefull errour remayned with great detestatyon condemned of the fathers and therfore they must seme at the least in some superficiall tryfle as stout enemies to dissent from hym Wherefore where his cunning was by Saint Augustine detected that though hée vsed the name of grace yet hée ment nothyng therby but onely nature Now these meÌ„ to auoide this open vew of vnitie wyth his condemned heresie At the first gate or entrie séeke such colerable passage as dissenting from the shew of his woordes maye neuerthelesse embrace the substaunce of hys heresie wherefore not to seme that they accoumpt grace to be nature they terme it an infused habite thinkyng thereby to make it apparaunt that they meane not any naturall power or habilitye And yet agayne in that they affirme it to bée lyke vnto the goodnesse and loue of God they thynke themselues to haue géeuen a substauntyall shew why all they that be therewyth adorned shoulde be acceptable vnto God Namely by reason of that lykenes and similitude to the goodnesse loue of god And this forsooth they terme Gratia gratum faciens That is grace whyche maketh man acceptable by whiche reason it must folow that the loue wherewyth God accepteth vs must come after thys grace and come in respect thereof And yet S. Iohn sayth hée loued vs first And Saint Paul affirmeth that our acceptatioÌ„ with God commeth in respect of his owne mercy And this is here to be noted that in man hym selfe they place this theyr grace wherby he is made acceptable vnto God makyng hym therby a cause of his owne saluation which errour Pelagius held the falshode wher of appeareth partely by that whiche is sayd before in the profe of the first part of the true definition of grace where it is euident that that grace whereby we be iustified is a frée beneuolence of the will of god Wherby it is manifest how falsly it is sayd the we are iustified by any habit powred into our myndes seyng it is by the fauour or grace whiche is in God and not in our selues wherby he receiueth vs into his mercy But this definition of theirs is as I sayd before grounded vppon Aristotles Diuinitie Now for further profe of their ioynyng with Pelagius in the substaunce of hys heresie herein it is nedefull to compare the conclusion of both the doctrines together in this point Pelagius affirmed that the begynnyng of all good workes proceded from our selues namely from the frée will and election of man and that grace dyd onely helpe the possibilitie of nature that these workes might more easely be performed Now the Papists and Scholemen bycause as I sayd before they must seme to dissent from him in somethyng affirme that the begynnyng of good workes procedeth not froÌ„ nature as he affirmed but from grace Mary this soueraigntie they attributed to nature that in the will consisteth frée power choyse eitther by geuyng place vnto grace to bryng forth good workes or els by resistyng the same to omit theÌ„ And I praye you from wheÌ„ce commeth this will seing they cal it frée could they haue erred more if they had with Pelagius affirmed the firste cause of good workes to come from nature no assuredly for they place the principall cause in frée wil whiche they place in nature and vnto grace though in wordes they geue it the first place yet alowe they it no further power but onelye to offer it vnto the mynde leauyng the whole soueraignty vnto nature Namely fre wil and choyse to admit or not admitte the same so that in this matter they differre from Pelagius onely herein in that hee affirmeth the first cause of good workes to consiste in nature and the Papistes affirme it to consiste in grace But yet vnto that grace they
of the whole Scripture together may bee acknowledged For we may not wrest such sense out of the Scripture by vrging the outward barke of some particular places therein as shall set them at strife with all the reste of the body of the Scripture and so imagine the spirite of truth at warre with hym selfe Wherefore for the first sorte let these authorites serue Euery man shall enioye good according to the fruites of his mouth and after the workes of his handes shall he bee rewarded Agayne The sonne of man shall come in the glory of hys father with his angels and shall reward euery man according to his deedes And agayne God is not vnrighteous that he should forget your worke and labour that proceedeth of loue which loue ye shewed towardes his name in that ye haue ministred vnto the Sainctes and yet minister These examples may serue for their argument of thys sort Well say they seing that mans rewarde is accordyng to hys workes it appeareth that in workes there is merite and that to mans iustyfication woorkes are requyred Here I myght briefly aunswere that all these woordes are spoken of woorkes comming after iustyfication whyche is not the matter in questyon betwene vs for the question is about woorkes goyng before iustification for the purchase thereof But for their great ouerthrow Let it bée imagined that these promyses are made to woorkes goyng before iustification and yet get they nothyng thereby for we answere they reason from a generall to a species which in an affirmatiue concludeth fasly as for example If one seyng a liuyng creature shoulde reason thus yonder is a liuyng creator therefore it is a man For as of liuyng creatures there be diuers kindes wherof mā is but one so of rewardes there bée dyuers kyndes whereof merite or desert is but one For some rewardes are frely geuē of loue or fauor some through hope of further benefite and some of merite desert or duetie c. So that as vntruely thys is concluded that because it is reward therfore it is merite or duety as the other namely because it is a liuing creature therefore it is a man for in déede this rewarde is of grace or fauour and not of merites or woorkes As by these oft rehearsed wordes of Paule is euydent For of fauour sayeth he yee are saued thorough fayth and not of your selues it is the gift of God and not of woorkes least anye man shoulde boast hym And although thys well considered wyth the definytion of iustyfication in the. 8. chapter doth fullye expresse what sense in these authorities maye well bee allowed yet shall the same in more larger forme of wordes bee declared thus Forasmuche as mans iustificatyon is a free remission of sinne and imputatiō of righteousnesse vnto man thorough fayth in Chryst therfore that the ryghteousnesse of the iustyfied by this free grace might be declared and the bountifull liberalitye of Gods mercye made manyfest to the prayse and glorye of hys grace for thys cause is the rewarde declared vppon the outwarde worke as vppon the outwarde wytnesse of the inward righteousnesse of fayth to the open declaration of the truth of Gods promyses concernyng the womans séede namely Christ By the Prophet Esay hée sayth thus Hee shall iustifie the multitude for hee shall beare awaye their synnes And agayne the people shall bee all ryghteous and possesse the lande for euer The flower of my plantyng the woorkes of my handes whereof I wyll reioyce And agayne that they myght bee called trees of ryghteousnesse A plantyng of the Lordes for hym to reioyce in Wherefore for thys cause namely that the chosen myght bée declared to be ryghteous in the eyes of all the worlde and the triumph of Gods grace or fauour thereby celebrated by the open performaunce of these hys promisses that hée might be iustified in his sayinges and ouercome when he is iudged In consideration hereof I saye he openly pronounceth the fauourable rewarde accordyng to the open manifest works or fruites of the righteousnesse of fayth induyng them with the rewarde of righteousnesse whiche rewarde is of fauour in respect of Chryst apprehēded by fayth and yet pronounced vppon the woorkes as vppon that outwarde fruite whereby the inwarde righteousnesse of fayth is declared whiche hée doth to thys ende that the elect maye bee declared to be iustyfied and the performaunce of his promyses in Chryst made apparaunt so that for thys cause namelye to iustyfie Gods promyse concernyng thys free and mercifull deliueraunce in the sighte of all men to the encrease of the glory of hys grace that as all men heard the promise so all maye witnesse the performaunce thereof For thys cause I say is the fauourable rewarde pronounced according to the outwarde workes or fruites of the ryghteousnesse of fayth wheras if it had beene pronounced accordyng to the fayth no man coulde haue witnessed the true performaunce of the promyse And thys is the cause why the fauourable rewarde is declared vppon the woorkes And not that the workes are the cause of the rewarde For the only end of Gods actiou herein is as Paule testifieth the prayse of the glorye of hys grace whiche is also euydent by this saying of the Phrophet Ezechyell And ye shall know that I am the Lord when I shall doe good to you for myne owne names sake and not accordyng to your most wycked offences By whyche wordes it appeareth that God wyll not onely be ryghteous in the performance of hys frée mercifull promise but hée wyll haue all the worlde both sée and wytnesse the same for hée sayeth in thys promyse you shall knowe that I am the Lorde c. So that hereby God hath promysed to declare hys frée fauour in suche an outwarde subiect as man may bée able to sée and wytnes the fulfilling therof in that he sayeth ye shal know and yet therewyth all he geeueth a determinate caueat that that subiecte wherein hys goodnesse shall be declared shall not be the cause of his goodnesse expressyng playnely what shal be the cause thereof namely hys owne glory Affirming that it shall be for his owne names sake Not onely exceptyng workes from being the cause but also to expresse their great néede of mercye to couer their spottes shewed them touchyng their owne nature howe foule they bée in saying And not accordyng to your most wycked offences And in both the other places before rehearsed out of Esay where he promiseth to make all hys people ryghteous and that they should be called trees of ryghteousnesse This is specially to be noted that in both those places he affirmeth their righteousnesse shall bée the flower of hys plantyng the woorkes of hys handes and not of their owne addyng thereto the cause thereof namely for hym to reioyce in That is accordyng to Saynt Paules woordes For the prayse and glorye of hys grace And to thys ende are all the woorkes of GOD done that hee may
righteousnes vnto workes haue not we our iustification of fayth and workes and not yours of faith onely It is sayde of Phinées in the 106. Psal that his acte was imputed to him for righteousnes And likewise in Deutronomy of hym that deliuered his neighbors pledge that it shal be righteousnes vnto him before the Lord his god And likewise S. Iames saith was not Abraham our father iustified by workes in offering his sonne Isaac vpon the aulter Whereupon they conclude that as man is not iustified by workes so is he not iustified by faith without workes flatly agaynste S. Paule who concludeth playnely that man is iustified of fauour through fayth without workes where he telleth both the finall cause of that liberall gifte namely the prayse and glory of the grace or fauor of God and also he telleth the reason why he so vehemently excludeth workes namely least any man shoulde beast that is through blinde presumption should challenge any part of the glory of that worke which God hath reserued to himselfe for his speciall triumph Now if the aduersaries will néedes vrge that the worde righteousnes or iustification hath the same signification in these places by thē alleged that it hath in Paule Doe they not teare in sunder the spirite of truth and set him at warre with hymselfe forasmuch as by the rigor of wordes they be contrary Paule sayth fiatly and affirmeth it by manye discourses that faith without worke iustifieth and that by workes no man liuing shall be iustifyed but these aucthorities affirme the contrary that these men by workes were iustifyed Now if they will néedes affirme that both in Paul and in these places which they alledge the worde righteousnes or iustifycation hath one sense is not this a doctrine that eyther must accuse Paule of ignorance of the sense of the auncient scriptures or of error in his owne and robbe God of his finall triumph namely of his glorie and vtter spoylinge man of the assuraunce of Gods fauour in Christ for if his assuraunce therof bee once ioyned with the condition of hys owne desert or workes surely he falleth by and by into one of our Phisitions new found Agewes A triple tertian quotidian he can neuer know when he is without a fitte Surely it were to hard for Peter Lumbard him selfe with both his foundations of hope to spy out a time to finde him selfe cleare from a fitte if for one masse whyle on the Sunday his imagination coulde mocke him that he were créeping to godward The true testimony of his conscience might assure him that all the rest of the wéeke after he were gallopping to the deuilward The Lord hath blessed hys elect from such assuraunce Wherefore let vs now reuerently with Paule haue respect vnto the finall ende of Gods woorke in this cause Namely to hym onely to yelde all the glorie and to man assuraunce and vndoubted possession of his fauour in Christ And we shall easely sée in these places no contrarictie but most swéete consent Let vs follow the rule of the auncient fathers in serching the truth of doubtfull sentences Thus sayth Hillarius Intelligentia dictorum ex causis est assumenda dicendi quia non sermoni res sed reiest sermo subiectus The meaning of wordes is to be gathered by the causes of the speaking for the matter is not subiecte to the worde but the worde to the matter Agayne Ierome vppon the Epistile to the Galathians saith thus Nec putemus in verbis Scripturarum esse Euangelium sed in sensu non in superficie sed non medulla non in fermonum folus sed in radice rationis Neither let vs thincke that the gospel consisteth in the wordes of the Scripture but in the meaning not in the barck but in the pith not in the leaues of wordes but in the roote of the meanyng Wherfore let vs in folowing the Coūfell of these auncient fathers séeke such meanynges and sense of these Scriptures as may expresse their consent with the rest of the Scriptures And haue respect vnto the finall cause of Gods purpose Namely as I haue often said that vnto hys fauour and grace for this so frée a benifite all prayse and glory may redoūde That al workes wrought by man before iustification be nothing els but the euill fruite of an euill tree it is before euidently proued And so vtterly vnable to abide the presence of gods iustice Wherby it foloweth of necessitie that the woorkes alleged in these their authorities were not there meant for works going before iustification as causes therof but in déede for such workes as folowyng the same declared manefestly the righteousnesse which to the doers of them was offrée fauour through fayth imputed For that the workes of a man by fayth already iustified be in the sight of God allowed for ryghteous by not hauing sinne imputed vnto them it is not onely not denyed but most constantly affirmed For how can it be otherwise but that God in beholdyng in them hys owne moste glorious Image wherewith throughe grace in respect of fayth they be clothed He muste both acknowledge it and delight therin But that their spottes and blemishes are nowe couered wyth the righteousnes of Christe this commeth not to them either by them selues or in respect of them selues but onely by grace or fauour through fayth as is shewed before For they beinge the workes of a man already by fayth iustified and clothed in the righteousnes of Christ Therfore they thereby clothed in the same righteousnes hauing theyr spottes and blemishes through mercye therewith couered are acknowledged for righteous They are accepted for good fruite because they were brought forth by a good frée So that fayth by apprehendyng of Christ and his righteousnes in the promise through grace and fauour attayneth mans iustification So the workes or fruites of the righteousnes of the same faith do manyfestly declare and witnes the doer of them to be righteous That is as fayth apprehēdeth righteousnes in the frée promise for man so the workes or fruites of that righteousnes of fayth doe declare and testifie that hee is iustifyed Wherefore whersoeuer in the Scriptures man is sayd to be iustifyed by workes the meaning is that he is by workes declared and knowen to bée a righteous man And not that the workes were the cause of his righteousnes This being thus considered ther appeareth betwene Paule and the aucthorities by them alledged no strife but most swéete agréement For as Paule telleth the meanes howe a man is iustifyed so the other shew and declare howe man is openly knowne to bee righteous or iustifyed Now marke gentle reader how this doctrine tendeth fully to that end where unto Saint Paule directeth hys course Namely that the whole glorie may redound to GOD alone and that man may haue a sure possession of Gods fauour in Christ Firste in that by iustifycation of workes this onely is to be vnderstand that man
THE IMAGE OF NATVRE AND GRACE conteynyng the whole course and condition of mans estate written by Richard Caundishe ¶ Sub laudibus naturae latent inimici gratia The enemies of Grace do lurke vnder the prayse of Nature AVGVSTINE ¶ Seene and allowed AT LONDON Printed by Iohn Daye dwellyng ouer Aldersgate ¶ Cum gratia Priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis ⧠To all that throughe simplicitie of conscience and lacke of true knowledge embrace the doctrine of the Papistes Richard Caundishe wisheth the spirite of true vnderstandyng SEyng the dignitie excellency of euerye knowledge standeth in the woorthynes of the subiect or matter whereof it entreateth therfore is this know ledge worthy all reuerēce which betwen your vnfrendly abusers and vs your vncredited frends is so diuerslie handled with contrary iudgemente because the subiect or matter thereof is our iustification reconciliation into the fauour of God agayn But alas thoughe the knowledge be sure and can not be changed seyng there can be but one truth yet to the searche of the same our wayes doe so differre that the one beyng settled the other is subdued Whereof briefly to examine the principall passages can not be vnworthy of diligent trauell The matter is weighty for therein consisteth the glorye of God and saluatiō of our selues Enquire of your teachers from whence they would haue you to seeke for the truth if they say frō them selues you are not so simple to thinke them sufficiēt to direct your fayth you will looke at theyr handes for some further authorities if they say from the fathers yet try or you trust thē for feare they deceyue you The fathers are many theyr reasons are diuers they felt theyr infirmities their writynges do smell of it wherfore vpon theyr opinions onely to repose the iudgement of the truth it can not bee possible to great is the diuersitie of theyr seuerall assertions though great were theyr giftes and they worthy reuerence yet ech felt hys lacke whiche sometymes appeared in dissentyng from hym selfe by latter reuokynges of former opinions by earnest reprouynges of other their fellowes Hierome writyng vpon this place of the 23. of Mathew where Christ charged the Scribes and Pharisies with that innocent bloud that was shed from Abell vnto Zacharye the sonne of Barachye affirmeth that some of the Fathers dyd thinke it was Zacharye the father of Iohn Baptist Touching the credite of whose opinion hee thus writeth Hoc quia ex sacris literis authoritatem nō habet eadem facilitate refellitur qua probatur Seyng this sayth hee hath no authoritie oute of the Scriptures it maye as easely be denyed as affirmed Here by it appeareth what authoritie this father hym selfe attributed to the fathers where they bryng any thing not warranted by the Scriptures of God touchyng the authority of the fathers thus writeth Augustine Noli ergo frater cōtra diuina tam multa tam clara tam indubitata testimonia colligere velle calumnias ex Episcoporum scriptis siue nostrorum siue Hilarij primò quia hoc genus literarum ab authoritate canonis distinguendum est Nō enim fic leguntur tanquam ita ex eis testimonium proferatur vt contrà sentire non liceat sic vbi fortè aliter senserint quà m veritas postulat c. Broother seeke not agaynst so many so clere and so assured testimonies of the scriptures to gather wrāglyng matters out of the Bishops writynges whether it bee out of myne or out of Hilaries first because this kind of writyngs is to be deuided from the authoritie of the Canon for they are not so read as thogh itwer not lawful to thinke cōtrary to the testimonies gathered out of them where they happe to meane otherwise thē the truth requireth Thus you see within what limites or boundes the good fathers enclosed the authoritie of theyr owne writynges submittyng them selues alwayes to the iudgement of the Scriptures Agayne the same Augustine disputyng with Hierome aboute Paules reprouyng of Peter mentioned in the seconde to the Galathians doth appeale from the authoritie of the fathers which Hierome alledged vnto the Scriptures Thus you see the fathers condēned all doctrine not confirmed by the Scriptures And I dare boldly affirme it that your teachers them selues on whom ye repose you if they be well awaked will not so aduaunce the fathers that in them alone you should repose the directiō of your fayth if that be theyr meanyng they do but decayue you deale nothyng playnely The fathers dissented howe should they then direct you some held open errours whiche they must nedes cōdemne will they haue you beleue with Origene that onely the father knoweth hym selfe and that the sonne knoweth not the father neither the holy ghost the sonne neither the angels the holy ghost with whiche errour they well know that Origene is charged wil they haue you with that good father beleu that al men shal be saued and leaue no subiect matter for the triumph of Gods iustice They dare not so teache you will they haue you with Irenaeus Victorius Papias Lactantius Methodius and many other of the excellent learned fathers subscribe to the heresie of the Millinaries I know they will deny it Will they haue you with Augustin diffinitiuely iudge all infātes dying without baptisme to be dāned that the Sacrament should be ministred to infantes They wil neuer alow both Wil they haue you with Cyprian new christen all such heretickes as were baptised out of the Churche if afterwardes they be conuerted They do not so teach you Will they haue you with Hierome condemne all seconde mariages for whoredom What soeuer they thincke they dare not affirm it Wil they haue you with Denice at the buriall of the dead to annoynt the corses with oyle Them selues do not vse it Wil they haue you to follow the example of Benet who commaunded the Sacrament to be put into the mouthe of a dead Nunne They will not confesse it And to conclude because the Fathers many times say true they abuse theyr names to lead you to error Your leaders themselues in substaunce of truth dissent from the Fathers and lead you to mischiefe with some of theyr errors You see howe the greatest had faultes full of dainger which must nedes make you feare to hange your faythe vppon them That grounde is to sclender for so weighty a cause you see howe they erred yee ought to be carefull seing therby you haue cause to knowe they were but men If you tell this to your leaders and require at theyr handes a moe certayne ground to builde on your fayth they will sende you to the Councelles for they can not erre the pope is theyr warrante because they affirme it they would haue you beleue it but be not to hastie to wage them with credite Take these for exāples that Councels may erre The Councell of Aremine consented to the heresie of the Arrians The secōd Councell of Ephesus did leane
brute sēseles nature is not capable thereof and the soule we receyue not of our parentes but of god How then commeth it that from our parentes we shoulde receyue this corruption The which is thus by some learned fathers answered that the soule is not by hys creation sinfull but forasmuch as mans disobedience hath vtterly spoyled hys whole nature of original righteousnesse and forasmuch as the soule is in the creation knit vnto a body subiect vnto that losse and made a part of the accursed man Therfore it is forthwith both depriued of the original grace and vertue wherwith by creatiō it was indued and wherewith it should haue gouerned the body And also it hath no meanes to vse it selfe but by the instrumentes or organes of the body whiche through the curse are naturally indewed with nothing but filthines and vtterly vnapte to all spirituall woorkes wherby it stubburnlye resisteth and impugneth the spirit who beyng now depryued of many of those vertues wherwith it was by creation indued is vnable to encounter the corruption of the fleshe and specially in her owne organs or instrumentes and therefore yeldeth vnto the inclinations thereof so that where it shoulde haue raygned ouer the bodye now contrarywise the body raygneth ouer it and suppresseth it and carieth it away captiue vnto the lusts aunswerable to the body And euen naturall Philosophy teacheth this that betwéene the soule and the body there is a certaine sympathy or knitting of affection for who seeth not that in melancholy bodyes the mynde is heauy and solitary in sanguine bodies mery and lyght c. whereby it appeareth that the mynde beyng thus inclosed in thys house of corruption is greatly blinded and drowned in the perfection thereof and so caryed away vnto the delight thereof Surelye thys curious searche of the propagation of originall sinne as it is very hard and difficulte so it is more then vaine and vnto saluation nothyng at all necessary Wherefore the aduersaryes ought rather in following the counsell of Saint Augustine in thys matter to labour and study to finde the way howe they must be drawen out of the danger of this originall filth corruption then curiously to stand questioning how they fell into it he rehearseth a pretye story how a certayne man chauncyng to fall into a déepe pitte lying there shouting crying an other hearing him came to the pitte and began very diligently to ēquire of him how hée fell in I pray thée saith he neuer aske me how I fell in but study diligentlye how thou mayst helpe me out Hauing thus briefly spoken of originall sinne I thinke it not conuenyent because thys deuysion is receaued to speake now of actuall sinne whiche in déede is nothyng els but a fruite or effect of the other Wherefore it may bée thus defined actuall synne is euery thought woorde and déede or whatsoeuer is contrary to the lawe and wyll of God and what soeuer is not of fayth The truth of this definition is thus gathered forasmuch as it is already proued that the whole nature of man is by original sinne vtterly corrupted Therefore the same synne triumphyng in his nature as a cause continually woorkyng can not but bring forth her effectes or fruites And by the woordes of Christ the fruite must bée aunswerable to the trée therefore all thoughtes woordes déedes what soeuer procedeth frō that corrupt nature is corrupt vncleane so actuall sinne and that thoughtes be herein cōprehended it is playne for that they bée the effectes of the originall corruption For Christ himselfe sayeth Out of the heart goeth euill thoughtes and if any acte beside be not comprehended vnder these woordes thought woorde or déede the same is comprehended vnder these generall wordes of Paule whatsoeuer is not of fayth is sinne Whereby it appeareth that not onely euyll thoughtes wordes and déedes be actuall sinne but also those thoughtes wordes déedes which otherwise morally of their owne nature be honest and good yf they bée done out of fayth that is to say if they be done by enuy not through fayth acceptable vnto God in Christ euen those thoughtes wordes déedes séeme they neuer so holy bée sinne Now forasmuch as there is a deuision of actuall synne which hath bene of long tyme receyued it is expedient that somewhat bée sayde concerning the same The deuision is thys into deadly sinne and into veniall sinne About both which partes not only how triflingly but also how wickedly the scoolemen do holde shal partly be shewed Wherfore first touching deadly sinne in that they bynd them to a certayne number affirming onely seuen sinnes to be deadly they doe not onely geue vnto man securitie in that hys enemy hath but seuen wayes to assaulte hym vnto death from which if hée can imagine hym free he thinketh hymselfe in any other offence not to synne deadly whereby all other synnes are extenuate and all wicked inclinations affections and thoughtes excluded from the number of deadly sinnes And yet sinnes be called deadly for no other cause but because death is due vnto them And therefore vnto what sinne soeuer death is due that sinne is consequentlye deadlye but death is due to all synne For Paule sayth generally the rewarde of sinne is death and therefore all synne is in respecte of hys owne nature deadly And though there bée synnes whyche God imputeth not to man yet that commeth not through the smalnes and lyghtnes of the synne but through the mercye of god And where agayne they affirme that deadly sinne doth not exclude fayth but that they maye both stande together they no lesse deceaue you as hereby appeareth for S. Paule sayth they that walke after the flesh can not please God wherefore who so pleaseth God walketh not after the fleshe but whosoeuer walketh in fayth pleaseth god Therefore whosoeuer walketh in fayth walketh not after the fleshe but to walke after the fleshe is to walke in deadly sinne Therefore they that walke in fayth walke not in deadly sinne whereby it followeth that faith and deadly sinne cā not stande together Agayne whosoeuer is dead hath no lyfe in hym but whosoeuer hath no life in hym hath no fayth in hym For the iuste do liue by fayth Therefore whosoeuer is dead hath no fayth in him but they are dead in whom deadly synne raygneth For hee that synneth is the seruaunt vnto synne Therefore they in whō there is deadly synne haue no fayth in thē Let thys for a touch or say of their errours concernyng deadly sinne suffice Now touching veniall or remissible sinnes they may thus be defined Ueniall synnes are all those synnes whiche through fayth are forgéeuen The truth of thys definityon is euident by these woordes of Peter in the .x. of the Actes To hym geeue all the prophets witnes that through hys name all that beleeue in hym shall receaue remyssyon of synnes but whatsoeuer is remytted is
scholemen haue handled the matter lurketh a great and venomous subtletye whyche is in that vertue is made the genus or generall woorde vnto fayth whereby fayth should séeme to bée contayned in the predicament of qualitie whiche before is shewed false and therefore he had affirmed before in the. 27. distinction of the seconde booke that no qualitye in the mynde can be a vertue vnlesse by charitie it be there formed for thus he writeth there Charitas est spiritus sanctus quae animae qualitates informat sanctificat vt eis anima informetur sanctificetur sine qua animae qua'it as non dicitur virtus Charitye is the holy Ghost whyche charytie doth forme and sanctifie the qualytyes of the minde that by them the minde may be formed and sanctified without which charitie no qualitie of the minde is called a vertue Here shineth the cause of his former foundation in that they make vertue the genus or generall worde vnto fayth namely because he woulde expresse fayth to be a qualitie by charitie formed in the mind And forasmuch as all qualities of the minde be actions or workes therefore in that he imagineth the same charitie to forme fayth he thinketh him selfe to haue geuen a substantiall cause why fayth in our iustification should be considered as it is a worke and not otherwise So that all his course herein is runne onely to this end namely to teach that iustification consisteth in workes and that fayth iustifieth in respecte that it is a worke and not otherwise And that this is his meaning it is plaine by that question out of the aunswere whereof his forenamed authoritie was alledged which is this Cur ergo dicitur fides mereri iustificationem vitam aeternam ex ea ratione dictum accipitur quia per actum fidei meretur illa VVhy sayth he is fayth said to deserue iustification and eternall life it is vnderstand to be said for this cause because by the acte of beleuing it deserueth those thinges Now doth it euidently appeare why vnto fayth he applied that definition out of the discourse about the subtiltie wherof this one thing is gathered worthy the noting namely the ouerthrow of the scholemens owne smoky distinction of formed and vnformed fayth wherewith so greatly they please them selues for by thys definition it is euident that there is no other fayth but onely forined fayth But to know what hereby is ment it is necessary to note that that qualitie of the minde which by charitable workes expresseth it selfe outwardly to beleue they call formed fayth And againe that qualitie of the minde which likewise beleuing though by charitable workes it declare it not they call vnformed fayth which by the doctrine of this deceauer is euident to be no fayth at all For if it be fayth by hys definition it must be a vertue and if it be a vertue it must by hys forenamed authoritie be formed in the minde by charitie or els he affirmeth it to be no vertue Wherfore seing thys their qualitie is vnformed therefore by hym it is no vertue and being no vertue by hys definition of fayth it is no fayth and that thys is that which out of hys owne doctrine is to be gathered it also appeareth by this question which he afterwardes in the 5. question of the 23. distinction of the 3. booke putteth An illa informis qualitas mentis quae in malo Christiano est fiat virtus cum sit bonus VVhether the same vnformed qualitie of the minde which is in an euill Christian be made a vertue when the man is a good Christian Here you plainly see that he flyeth the name of fayth and calleth it an vnformed qualitie and not vnformed fayth knowing that that vnto hys own definition had ben a flat antithesis Thus is it euident both how their doctrine is at warre within it selfe and also that as the same is vtterly strange frō the true doctrine of Christ so are they driuen to forge termes of arte accordingly for the same such as the Scripture can not acknowledge the cause whereof may séeme to haue bene thys that for asmuch as the matter of iustification of workes which is the prowler for all theyr prouision is by the whole course of the Scriptures ouerthrowen and the office therof attributed to fayth Therfore sought they such blynd definitions of fayth as in reteinyng the name of fayth for fashions sake myght neuerthelesse reserue vnto workes the soueraignitie still Which beyng imagined there remayned this one thing behynd that for asmuche as their ende was to seke a generall gayne of all men aswell of the bad as the good by this their deuised Religiō it was of necessitie that this their fayth beyng one of the pillers therof should conteyne in it some such plausible proprieties as with pleasaunt allurementes and shewes myght minister matter both to good and bad to feede thē selues with opinion of the possession of true fayth vnder the couloure thereof For the doyng wherof it was necessary that it should conteyne in it two diuers kynds proportionall to the condition of the two diuers subiectes which should possesse the same namely the good and the bad And hence semeth their subtile distinction of formed vnformed fayth to haue growen Their formed fayth was onely perculiar to theyr good men such as by theyr charitable workes had formed the same and geuen it the true nature and forme Namely by offeryng at pilgrimages buyldyng chauntreis bying of pardons and such other stuffe And their vnformed fayth is a medicine for all hell houndes and rake helles for none cā be so wicked but if he acknowledge theyr Churche they will thus far comfort him that he may persuade hym selfe that notwithstandyng all hys vilanies yet hath he in him all good and true fayth necessary vnto saluation Mary they say yet it is vnformed Surely it is lyke to that which hath bene fayned of the Beares whelpe namely that it should bee whelped a rude lumppe without shape which the dame with the lickyng of her toung doth perfectly forme So the possessours of this theyr vnformed fayth by the lickyng the same not with theyr tunges but with the charitable workes of theyr pursse taught in the rules of their holy Churche may forme it at their owne pleasure yea if they lyst after the best fashion the more cost the more perfection Truly this semeth to to haue bene the grounde of theyr doctrine herein for what soeuer they say of fayth they meane thereby no other thyng but that a superstitious humblenes and blynde obedience to the penny prowlyng doctrine of their counterfeyte Churche is true and Christian fayth though the possessor therereof know neither how GOD wil be worshypped in Christ nor how by hym he is made gratious and mercyfull vnto hym This is theyr fayth to beleue nothyng determinately nor with assuraunce of knowledge but alwayes vnder this condition if the iudgement of their Churche so allow
et in lege possit deleri hoc decreuit vt solam fidem poneret per quam onmium peccata aboleret vt quia nulla spes per legem omnibus hominibus erat dei misericordia saluarentur Because sin began to be increased by the craft of the aduersary that man through the restraint mought bee found more giltie God of hys mercifull goodnes alwayes carefull for man that that which without law was transgressed might in the lawe be blotted out decreed this Namely to appoint fayth onely to be the meane whereby he would extinguish the sinne of all men that seing no hope was left to any man in the lawe they might by the mercy of God be saued Agayne the same Ambrose In Christo Iesu data est gratia quia hoc constitutum est vt qui credit in Christum saluus sit sine opere sola fide gratîs accipiens remissionem peccatorum In Christ Iesu is grace geuen forasmuch as this with God is decreed that who so beleueth in Christ is saued by fayth only without worke receauing freely forgeuenes of sinnes Agayne Hillarius vpon the 8. of Mathew hath these wordes Sola fides iustisicat onely fayth doth iustifie Notwithstandyng these authorities of Scriptures and fathers yet do the aduersaries kéepe styll theyr brasen faces and stoutly sweare it stare it out that none but heretickes and schismatickes affirme that onely faith iustifieth Truely gentle reader if thou béest not setled in error thou cāst not but see their wicked and shameles facing in crying out that we corrupt the scriptures and that none of the fathers gathered out any such sense or meanyng of them concerning which matter thou hast heard diuers of them tell theyr owne tales Now it is here principally to be noted that wher mans iustification is a free remission of sinnes and imputation of righteousnes vnto hym through fayth in Christ it may be that because the phrase of the Scriptures of these aucthorityes attribute the same so many tymes to fayth that therefore some myght gather thereby that fayth is the efficiēt cause of mans iustification which is not so for the efficient cause is onely God euē as sinful mā destitute of Gods grace is the materiall cause and as the declaratiō of Gods iustice righteousnesse in performaunce of hys free promyse to the encrease of the glory of hys grace is the finall cause And forasmuch as vnto this worke two instrumentes were requisite the one to be vsed by God whiche was Chryst of whom hée made the sacrifice and offeryng the other to be vsed by man whiche is fayth Therefore that fayth beyng as I saide the instrument whiche taketh holde of the promyse hath relation vnto the obiecte of fayth Namely vnto Chryst and the promyse and so hath the title of iustification imputed vnto it for so sayth the Scripture Abraham beleeued God and God imputed that to him for righteousnesse Whyche Paule dyuers tymes rehearseth to shewe that fayth is not the efficient cause of iustificatyon but the obiecte of fayth Namelye Chryst and the promyse And that fayth receyueth the tytle thereof onelye by imputation and not by proprietie of nature Namely because it is that wherewith man taketh holde of Christ and the promise whiche I thought worthy the notyng Thus hauyng shewed the nature of the newe couenaunt touchyng mans iustification and that fayth is the onely meane required in man to the attaynement thereof it followeth Cap. 9. ¶ To know the certayne tokens of that fayth wherunto iustification is imputed and the difference betwene the workes of the faythfull the works required in the law FAyth beyng the gift of God as Paule to the Phillippians affirmeth for vnto you sayth he it is geuen not onelye to beleue in Christ but also to suffer for hym fayth I say beyng the gyft of God is accompanyed wyth newnesse of lyfe which possesseth suche beautyes of Gods grace as forthwyth kyndle the soule or mynde wyth desire of true obedyence vnto God by ingraftyng hym both into the similitude of the death of Christ whereby he dyeth vnto sinne and also into the similitude of hys resurrection whereby hée ryseth vnto a newe lyfe beyng sure that the olde man of synne is crucified that henceforth hée shoulde no more be seruaunt to sinne So that now she trayneth hys affection towardes the thynges aboue from the thynges on the earth in that hée is dead to synne his life béeing hydden in Chryst wyth God whereby hée laboureth to mortifye the affectiōs of the earthly members as hauing put of the olde man with hys workes and put on the new whiche is renued in knowledge after the Image of God shapen vnto righteousnesse and true holines laboring not to greue the spirite of God by whom he is sealed vnto the daye of redemption but knowing himselfe the temple of the holy ghost laboreth to clense and purifie the same Whiche desire is not now kindled in hym as in respecte of merite but as proper and peculiar vnto the faith which through grace hath takē the possession of the mind wherby he is trāsformed into the similitude of Chryst so that where before he yelded himselfe seruant vnto all the workes of the fleshe now contrarywise he laboureth to pursue all the woorkes proper vnto the spirite Beyng certayne that the grace of God whyche bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared and teacheth hym that hée shoulde denye vngodlinesse and worldly lust◠and that he should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present lyfe Séeyng Chryst gaue him selfe for him to redéeme him from all vnrighteousnesse to purge hym peculiar vnto him selfe feruently geuen to good workes that so he might walke worthy of the Lorde in all thinges that please being fruitfull in all good woorkes and increasing to the knowledge of God because hée is hys workemanshyp created in Chryst Iesus vnto good woorkes whiche God ordayned that he shoulde walke in them Now forasmuch as these be the proprieties or fruites belongyng to regeneration whyche entreth wyth true fayth Therefore presentlye where soeuer she taketh place shée maketh her selfe knowne by these effectes and forthwith vpon her arriuall begynneth fight with the olde man of sinne and déedes of the same And whereas before whilèst the strong armed man namely the deuill kept the pallace that is possessed the soule or mynde all thinges were in peace that is man slumbred in security féelyng no fight in conscience Now so soone as a stronger commeth in place namelye the holy ghost furnishyng the minde with true faith whereupon newnes of lyfe and true godlinesse atténde Then foorthwyth entreth man into the christian fight for presently all the forenamed graces are encountred by the deuyll and the corruptyon of hys sinfull and rebellious nature according to these sayinges Hostis noster adhuc in hac vita nos positos quanto magis nos sibi rebellare
reioyce and haue glorye in them Whereby it appeareth that hys glory and not mans works is the cause of the rewarde And that workes doe nothyng else but declare that that man vppon whom the frée rewarde and performaunce of the mercifull promyse is bestowed is righteous and hath by fayth attayned the promyse The rewarde is declared vppon workes as vppon that onely subiecte whiche was able to manifest the righteousnesse of fayth And to make the performaunce of Gods mercifull and frée promyse apparaunt to all men that hee myght be iustified in his saying and ouercome when hee is iudged Hauyng nowe shewed in what sort al places of the scrypture which attribute rewardes vnto woorkes are to be vnderstand excludyng vtterly mans merite or desert according to the true nature of grace and fayth expressed in the. 8. Chapter and also agreable vnto the ende of Gods purpose expressed both by these places before rehearsed oute of the prophets and also by Paul namely reseruyng vnto hys free fauour grace the whole prayse glory of thys woorke as the final cause thereof hauing shewed thys I wyll returne to shew what price mans woorkes are of by the scriptures and how the ancient fathers accompted of them First it is sayde in Genesis the imagination of mans heart is euill euen from hys youth And it is sayde in Iob. beholde hee founde vntruth in hys seruauntes and in hys Angelles there was follye howe muche more in those that dwell in houses of clay and whose foundatyon is but duste And agayne How may a man compared vnto GOD bee iustyfied or how can hee bee cleane that is borne of a woman beholde the Moone shyneth not in comparyson of hym and the Starres are vncleane in hys sight then howe muche more man that is but corruption and the sonne of man that is but a woorme And agayne VVho can say my heart is cleane I am pure from sinne And agayne Enter not into iudgement with thy seruaunt for in thy sight shall no man liuyng bee iustyfied And agayne Though thou washe thee wyth Nitrus and take thee muche Sope yet thyne iniquitie is marked before mee sayeth the Lorde GOD. Agayne VVe are all as an vncleane thyng all our righteousnesse are as menstruous clothes Agayne All men are liers Agayne The hart of man is wycked vnsearcheable Agayne VVhat is man that he should be cleane and he that is borne of a woman that he shoulde be ruste beholde he found no stedfastnes in hys Sainctes yea the heauens are not cleane in his sight how much more is man abhominable filthy which drinketh iniquitie like water Agayn All the children of men are vnrighteous yea all their workes are vnrighteous and there is no truth in them Agayne In my fleshe dwelleth no good thinges And agayne All haue gone out of the way all haue bene made vnprofitable Agayne There is none righteous no not one they are all become abhominable there is none that doth good no not one And Christ hym selfe sayth VVhē you haue done all that is commaunded you say you be vnprofitable seruauntes Upon the which wordes of Christ it shall not be amisse to note what one of the Popes owne Cardinals Thomas de Vio writeth Neta parabolam pro memoria et conclusionem pro documento si seruando onmia praecepta sunnis inutiles nec habemus vnde superbiamus quid sentiendum de nobisipsis est qui non omnia seruamus qui multorum rei sumus sed quid de nobis dico quum nullus dicere possit quod debeham feci nisi qui exemptus est a dicendo dimitte nobis debita nostra Quod ergo dicitur quum fecer t is omnia non dicitur quòd facturi essent omnia sed quòd si etiam facerent omnia sed quòd quum merita habuerint facientium omnia praecepta recognoscant se seruos inutiles vt a fortiori recognoscant se minus quà m inutiles hoc est debiteres reos multorum quae debebant seu debent facere Note the parable for remembrance the conclusion for your learning if in keeping all the commaundementes we be vnprofitable and haue nothing to be proud of what shall we thinke of our selues which do not keepe all which be giltie in manie of them what I say shall we thinke of our selues when none of vs all can say I haue done that I ought vnlesse any be priuiledged from saying forgeue vs our trespasses VVherfore where it is sayd when ye haue done all thinges it is not therefore sayd as though they could do all things but for this cause that though they could do all thinges and though they could haue the merites of such as performe all the cōmaundements they must acknowledge them selues vnprofitable seruantes that by a much stronger argument they might acknowledge thē selues lesse then vnprofitable that is detters and giltie of many thinges which they ought and are bound to do Which thinges Gregorye well vnderstood when he sayd Humana iustitia diuinae iustitia comparata iniustitia est quia lucerna in tenebris fulgere cernitur sed in Solis radiis posita tenebratur Mans righteousnes compared with the iustice of God is wickednes for euen a candle is seen to shine in the darke but being set in the beames of the Sunne it is darkned Hauing now shewed by these authorities what is the worthines of mans workes it plainly appeareth what merite is in them namely the merite of damnation And touching the opinion of the fathers concerning merites Thus writeth Origen Sicut hoc quod subsistimus non potest intelligi quia ex operis nostri mercede subsistimus sed euidenter dei munus est quod simus gratia conditoris qui nos esse voluit ita et si haereditatem promissonum dei capiamus diuina gratia est non alicuius debiti aut operis merces As it can not be vnderstand that we be that which we now be for the hire of our owne worke but that we be is euidently the gift of God and the fauour of the creator which would haue vs to be euen so although we may receaue the inheritance of the promise of God it commeth of the fauour of God not being the hire of any dutie or worke And thus saith S. Augustine writing vpon these wordes of the 30. Psal Deliuer me in thy righteousnes Quis inquam est qui scruatur gratis is in quo non inuenit seruator quod coronet sed quod damnet non inuenit merita bonorum sed inuenit merita suppliciorum VVho is he I say that is saued frely Euen he in whom the Sauiour findeth nothing to crowne but to condemne no merite of good thinges but desert of punishment Againe the same Augustine in his epistle to Pauline Operibus debitum redditur gratia gratis datur vnde nuncupatur si quis autem
agayne in the. 18. Psalme God hath rewarded mee accordyng to my innocency and according to the cleanenesse of my handes hath he recompenced mee for I obserued the commaundements of the Lord and was not wicked against my God but I had al his lawes before me neither cast I his commaundements from me I was pure before him abstained mine owne wickednes therefore God hath rewarded me according to my innoceÌ„cy and according to the cleanenes of my handes in hys sight Who so considereth in the Scriptures the cause and the manner of the exclamatyon of the righteous in theire lameÌ„table calamitie vnder the cruell vniuste and mercilesse persecutions and afflictions of the wicked tyrannous oppressors shall foorthwith see the solution of these arguments namely that the righteous therein iustifie not themselues neyther auouche their innocencie in respecte of the iustyce of God but in respecte of the false vniuste and tyrannous wickednesse of the oppressor in respecte of theire most horryble iniurye and crueltye they maye wel auouch their righteousnesse and innocencye and therefore they flye for succour vnto the iustice of God who knoweth howe giltlesse they are touchyng the false accusation of theire bloud thirstye enemyes requirynge of God in that cause to be defended froÌ„ their enemies euen as he who knoweth theire conscyence could testify that they had not committed those euils for the whiche theire enemyes most cruelly pursued them as here in the. 7. Psal Dauid being falsely accused by Chus one of Saules kynsmen challengeth the iustice of God for the defence of hys innocencye in that case toward Saul desiring of God hys deliuerance according as he knew hym giltlesse toward Saul seing hys conscience could accuse him of no conspiracie or treason towardes hym In thys sort do the righteous somtymes in the scriptures offer the innoceÌ„cy of their causes before the iudgement seate of God not alledging innocency in respect of Gods iustice but in respecte of the false and wicked vntruthes wherwith theyr enemyes charged them Wherefore in the 18. Psalme Dauid being by the mercy of God setled in the seate of hys Kyngdome geueth thankes vnto God for that euen according to the innocency of his hart cleanenes of hys hands towards Saul he had rewarded hym in deliueryng hym from the daÌ„ger of so mighty and cruell an enemye reioysing in that â—he hauyng the lawe of God before hys eyes had withholden his hart handes from committing wickednes agaynst hys annointed Lord and king For such was hys innocency and righteousnes â—n respect of Saules wickednes that he â—ould nothing accuse hym self towardes Saule For in makyng hys mone to Ionathas Saules sonne thus he auoucheth hys innocencye What haue I done sayth he wherein am I faultie what is the sinne that I haue committed agaynst thy father that he seketh my life And anone after he sayth vnto hym If there be in me any trespasse theÌ„ slay me thy selfe Hereby ye may see the innocency and righteousnes which Dauid aueucheth in hymselfe was in respecte of Saules wicked and vniust crueltie and not in respecte of the iustice of god For where soeuer he handleth the cause betwene the iustice of God and hym selfe there he singeth another songe Then cryeth he Be mercifull vnto me O Lord be mercifull vnto me accordyng to thy great mercyes and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences Then cryeth he Lorde reâ— proue me not in thine anger neitheâ— chastise me in thy heauie displeasure If thou Lord wilt watch what is donâ— amisse Lorde who shall be able to 〈◊〉 bide it Lord clense me from my 〈◊〉 crete sinnes and such lyke Then neither talketh he of hys owne innocencye or righteousnes he beasteth then of no righteousnes but of mercy Blessed are they sayth he whose wickednes are forgeuen and whose sinnes are couered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth no sinne Here is all the righteousneshe knoweth of hym 〈…〉 when he hath to deale with the iustice of god Thus hauing briefly shewed by a fewe examples the true aunsweres of the principall obiections of the enemye of iustification of fayth and the sweete agreement thereby of the Scriptures in geuing to God the whole honour of mans saluation and vnto man a sure possession of Gods fauour in Christ I will now shewe why iustification is imputed to fayth and not to workes and so make an end Touching thys question there appeare two iuste causes thereof first for that fayth is the onely meane betwene maÌ„ and the promise and that which apprehendeth righteousnes and worl 〈…〉 are nothyng els but as it were an effect or fruit of the righteousnes of the same fayth Therfore iustification is to be imputed to that which apprehended the righteousnes and not to the fruit thereof Secondly and principally that forasmuch as the end of all Gods works is to purchase to hym selfe as of right is due all prayse honour and glory in the performance of his promise as hath often bene sayd as the greatest prerogatiue he challengeth froÌ„ his creatures Therfore it is of necessitie that no part of mans iustification should be imputed to workes as vnto any part of the cause thereof For that ambitious maÌ„ should haue no colour of title to any proportional part of the glory of the worke that no fleshe might boast in hys presence And thys is the cause which Paule him selfe sheweth to the Ephesians concerning the same For by grace sayth he ye are saued through fayth and not of your selues it is the gift of God and not of workes lest any man shoulde boast him that all the glory might redounde to God alone who as he saueth vs for hys owne sake so by him selfe onely hath he begonne continued and ended the whole worke concerning our saluation To whom through Iesus Christ our only and omnisufficient Sauiour be therfore all glory honour and maiestie kingdome power and dominion through all eternitie Amen ¶ A Correlary It is hereby manifest that forasmuch as the onely ende of Good workes is to shew mans obedience to God that God thereby may be glorified and to witnes and declare the possession of that true fayth whereby onely righteousnes is proper to the elect of God that by them maÌ„ may yelde a full testimony of his calling and election through Christ into the fauour or loue of god Forasmuch I say as thys is the onely ende of good workes therefore he that eyther teacheth or doth any worke hauing apparance of holines to any other end theÌ„ this namely in hope of any reward for the worthines thereof that worke what shew soeuer it hath of godlines is wicked and detestable in the sight of God in that it offereth a filthy price for that by the free gift whereof God séeketh honour That the price offered is filthy it is hereby apparant in that all workes not being of fayth are sinne
so by hys abondant mercy he rayseth vs vp agayne The mercy of God farre excedeth hys other works Iohn 4. Rom. 8. Gen. 3. All creatures vnder heauen reuerence God in their kindes sauing onely man. The Sunne The Moone Starres The Ayre Lightning Thunder Hayle Snow Rayne Wynde The earth declareth the magnificence of god Beastes Fishes Foules Birdes in the ayre Trees Plantes A glasse wherein man may beholde himselfe Rom. â— Act. 14. Gen. 3. Gene. 22 Psal 135. Esay 19. Exod. 6. Leuit. 29. Deut. 6 Leuit. 19 God commaundeth vs to loue him God commaundeth vs to loue hym Definition of loue What it is to loue the Lord our God. Rom. 13 Deut. 6 Math. 5 Deut. 6. Leuit. 19. Definitien of the law Mans corrupt nature Man can not satisfy the law A false and corrupt doctrine God freelyâ— and of hys purpose procured mans redemption Gene. 3 As God is true so did he bind him self to perform mans deliuerance God renued his promyse for the resto ring of mankinde Gene. 22. Gene. 28. Gene. 3 Gene. 22. To the children of Israell God first gaue the law Two offices of the law The outward office of the law The spirituall office of the law 1. Cor. 15 Rom. 3 2. Cor. 3 Rom. 7 Rom. 4 Rom. 5 Gal. 3. Rom. 7 Gal. 3. An obiection of the papistes An answer Rom. 8. Cor. 2. De spiritu lite Cap. 36. Lib. de bono mortis Cap. 3. Super cantica ser 50. Lib 3 contra duas epist. Pelag. cap. 2. De lit et spi ad Marcellinum cap. 17. Asollico epist. 200. Expo quarundam epist. ad Rom .x. In lib. exposit epist. Paulâ— ad Galatas Super Ioan. tracta 3 cap. 1. The law doth shew 〈…〉 nne but not take away sinne The geuing of the law was horrible fearefull Exo. 34 Gal. 3. Esa. 7. Mich. 5 Gen. 49. Daniel 9. Esa. 53. Zac. 9. Esay 62. Zac. 9. Christ is the full raunsome and reconcilement â—or mans trangression 1. Cor. 15. Adam the first man made vs bond to 〈◊〉 And Christ the second man hath made vs free from sinne Ozee 13. Col. 2. Christ is our Aduocate to the father Esa. 53. Eph. 2. By Grace we are saued thorough faith and not of our selues Only fayth apprehendeth the promises of god Sola fides Grace Fayth Iustification Righteousnesse workes Definition of grace 2. Tim. 1. Eph. 1. Rom. 3. Titus 3 Eph. 2. Grace defined by the papistes Definition of habit Pelagians hereby 3 Reg. 18. Lament 5. Ezech. 11. Psa 51. Ioh. 6. Fayth diuersly taken in the scriptures Math. 13 The definition of faith Ebr. 10. 〈◊〉 Ioh. 5 In Mat. 5. De spirit et litera cap. 3 Act. 15. The opinion of the Schoiemen and Papistes of Fayth Sent lib. 3 distinct 23. Cap 1 The vnformed fayth of the Papistes The formed fayth of the Papistes Righteousnes how it is taken in the Scriptures and also Iustification Definition of iustification Rom. 4. Iustification taught by the Papistes Definition of workes Inward workes Outward workes Definition of good workes Math. 5. Works are a testimony of mans election 2. Peter 1. The errors of the Pa 〈…〉 s abo 〈…〉 workes Preparing worke of congruent merite There is no middle estate betwene God and the Deuill Eph. 2. Coll. 2. The work of the worker workes of Supererogation Blasphemy to Christes death and passioÌ„ Penaunce Christ Satisfaction Rightcousnes is un 〈◊〉 unto vs by the f 〈…〉 〈…〉 o sence and good will of God. Onely fayth attey neth 〈…〉 cation Ioh. 4. Only fayth John. 6. Fayth Fayth Fayth Ioh. 11. Fayth Ioh. 12. Fayth Act. 10. Only fayth Act. 16. Fayth Rom. 3. Fayth iustifieth without the vewes of the law Rom. 4. Fayth Fayth Fayth iustefieth Fayth iustefyeth without workes of the law Faith saueth Fayth iustiuÌ„eth Rom. 11. Gala. 2. Gal. 3. Abac. 2 Gal. 3 Gal. 5. Fayth and not workes iustiuÌ„eth vs Titus 3. Augustide tempore serm 61 Solafides Faith alone Exclusa est gloriatio Solafides Rom. 3. Only fayth Sola fides Fayth noly Sermon 7. Sola fides Fayth only Serm. 8. Sola fides Chrisostom in priore ad Timoth. Cap. 1. Homel 4 Sola fides Fayth only Sola fides Fayth only Serm de fide et lege Sola fide Basilius homilia de humilitate Ambrosuâ— Roma 4. Sola fides Fayth only Sola fides Fayth only Rom 4. Sola fides Only fayth Rom. 9. Sola fides Only fayth Rom. 11. Solaf ides Only fayth Fayth only 1. Cap. 1. epi ad Corinth Sola fides Fayth only Sola fides Fayth is not the efficient cause of our iustification but God only Newnes of life Rom. 6 Rom. 6. Col. 3. Eph. 4 Col. 3 Eph. 4 1. Cor. 6. Titus 2. Col. 1 Eph. 2. Mar. 12. Luke 11. Gre. lib. 24 cap. 12. moralium The deuill is a great enemy to a vertuous good life Rom. 7 True fayth is knowen by good workes Tit. 3. Good workes are the fruites of good fayth Ephes 1. True fayth must be witnessed by deedes De vocatione gentium lib. 1. Cap. 8 Good workes Rom. 8 Good workes De 12. abusionibus Cap. 7 Definition of faythfull workes The good workes of the law The good workes of the faithfull Good workes follow iustification not iustification worke Eph. 2. Libro de fide et operibus cap. 14. In euangel Ioh. trac 86. Two thinges required to euery good worke Ose 6. Ose 4. Mat. 12. Iob. 23. Psal 119 we cannot leade a pure christian life without the knowledge of the will of god Phil. 1. 1. Cor. 2. Psal 119. Affection of the hart is required to the performaunce of good workes Man of his owne nature hath affection to rebession and Iust to all wickednes The Papistes haue builded a labirinth of error and a maâ—e for their owne confusion Such scriptures as promising reward to workes procure men to laboure for the same are aunswered and expounded An answer to the argument of the papistes Eph. 2. Esay 53 Esay 60. Esa. 61 Esa. 60. 61. Eph. 1. What price and value our workes is accompted of in the scriptures Gen. 8. Iob. 4. Iob. 25. Pro. 20 Psal 143. Iere. 1 Esa. 64. Iob. 15 3. Esor 4. Rom. 7. Rom. 3. Cardinall Caietan If no man can do that he ought I pray you what place leaueth this Cardinall to vndue workes or workes of sunetero gation Thus can God vse his enemies to make them sometimes confesse the truth agaist them selues Morah lib. cap. 28. The opinion of y fa. thes concerning merits Origenes Rom. 4. Augustin in Psal 30 We haue no fayth that can deserue grace for it is freely geuen vs of God. There goeth no merites of man before the grace of God. Dutie or debt hath two senses He that laboureth is worthy of his hire A debt that groweth of loue not of duetie Where this worde debt or duetie is truely vnstand there no desert is looked for De natura gratia Cvp 4.