agayne what it is too be iustifyed by fayth For these thinges being well and substantially vnderstanded I do not doubt but that the teste wyll bee a greate deale the playner PHILALETHES To be iustified by workes is by our owne deedes to deserue remission and forgeuenesse of synnes and too pourchase vnto oure selues saluation Or elles thus They are iustifyed by workes in whose life there is founde suche cleanelinesse and holynesse as maye deserue the testimonye of righteousnesse before the iudgement seat of God or that wyth the vprightenesse of theyr woorkes be able to aunswer and satysfye Goddes iustyce and iudgemente DYDIMVS I beleue that they are very thynne sowen that with the vprightnesse of theyr workes be able to aunswer and satisfy the iustice and iudgemente of God PHILALETHES They are very thyn sowen in dede For non Christ onely excepted could euer do it And therefore Christ only hath satisfied the iustyce of God all the chyldren of Adam beinge at defiaunce with their owne righteousnesse oughte to crye oute wyth Dauid and sai Enter not in to iudgemeÌ„t with thy seruauÌ„t o lord Psal 143. for in thy sight shal no maÌ„ liuiÌ„g be iustified ALBI. And what is it to be iustified by fayth PHI. They are iustifyed by faith What it is to be iustyfied by fayth that being excluded froÌ„ the righteousenesse of workes do by faythe take holde one the righteousenesse of Christe wherwyth when they are clothed and appareylled they appeare in the syghte of God not as synners but as ryghteouse personnes ALBION Obiecti ∣ on i. This me thinke is a verye coumfortable doctrine But yet it wyll not be alowed of all men for the most parte wyll stil maintaine that we are iustified by workes and not by faith onlye aleadginge for the probation of this their sayinge the second chapiter of Iames Iam. 2. wher he saieth on this maner was not our father Abraham iustified throughe workes when he offered Isaac his son vpon the altar And a little after ye se then how that of woorkes a man is iustified and not of faithe onlye Either ye muste saye they make the holy Apostels to disagree or ye muste graunte with Iames that of works man is iustified and not of faith onlye Aunswer PHILALETHES God wotte this is a poore helpe that they doe bringe for them selues For firste and formoste let vs marke the history that Iames doeth make meÌ„tion of and we shal soone perceiue how ignorauntly they behaue theÌ„ selues in expoundinge the wordes of the Apostell We reade in the xv chapiter of Genesis Gen. 15. that Abraham beleued the Lord and it was coumpted vnto him for righteousnesse Which texte is of Paule aleaged after this sort If Abraham were iustified by workes Rom. 4. he hath wherein to reioyce or glorye but not with God For what saith the scripture Abraham beleued God and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse Wherby the holye Apostle Abraham was iustyfied .xxx. yeares afore he offered his sonne Isaac doeth proue most stronglye that Abraham our father was iustified by faithe But this that Iames doeth speake of whiche is the offerynge of Isaac was done xxx yeares after that the scriptures did pronounce Abraham to be iustified or that his faith was coumpted vnto him for righteousnesse Verely fyth that .xv. yeares afore that Isaac was borne Gene. 22. Abrahams faythe was imputed vnto hym for righteousnesse it was impossible that he shoulde be iustifyed by the offering of hys sonne Isaac which was as I sayd before .xxx. years after What if we saye then that the apostle doeth only go about to shewe What faith Abraham was iustified by that the fayth whiche Abraham was iustifyed by was no idel or dead fayth but such a faith as made hym obedient vnto God as it is more playnelye set foorthe in the .ii. to the Hebrewes EV. This that ye haue brought in now is of greate strength And truly I do not see which way thei can wind theÌ„ selues out of the briers if the history the circumstaunces of the same be weyghed a ryghte PHI. We wil yet go to worke with them another way and shew how that ther is no repugnaunce at al in the doctrine of the Apostels For what contrariety or repugnaunce could ther be in their doctrine sith that they wer both lead by one spirit Therfore we shal marke that the holy Apostle S. Paul in his epistels to the Romains to the Galathians did dispute and reason against theÌ„ that did atribute iustificatioÌ„ to workes but. Note this diligeÌ„tly S Iames did wryte against them which did vtterly contempne and despise good workes And therfore Paule sheweth the causes of our iustificatioÌ„ Iames the effectes frutes of the same Paul declareth how we are iustifyed Iames how we are knoweÌ„ to be iustified Paul excludeth workes as not the cause of our iustificatioÌ„ Iames approueth workes as effects proceding of the same Paul denieth that any good workes caÌ„ be in theÌ„ that be not iustyfied Iames affirmeth that they which be iustified caÌ„ in no wise be wtout good woorkes But ye shall heare what S Augustine hath left vnto vs by writing touching the matter Augu. 83. questionum questi 76. Glossa ordinaria Quod Abraham per fidem sine operibus iustificatus est de operibus quâ—e precedebant intelligitur quia per opera quae fecit iustus non suit sed sola fide Hic de operibus agitur quae fidem sequntur Heb. 11. per quae amplius iustificabatur cum tam per fidem fuisset iustus Vnde Paulus dicit Fide obtulit Abraham Isaac quum tentaretur Haec oblatio est opus et testimonium fidei et iustitiae That is too saye That Abraham was iustifyed by faith without works it is to be vnderstaÌ„ded of the workes that dyd goo before For he was not righteouse throughe the workes which he had done but by faythe only Here it is spokeÌ„ of the works that folowe the faith whereby he was more iustifyed whereas he was alreadye before made righteouse by faithe Therfore Paule sayeth The offeringe of Isaac is a testimony of the fayth righteousnesse of Abraham Abraham did offer Isaac with faith when he was tempted This offeringe is a worke and testimonye of his faythe and of hys righteousnesse These things did he write vpon Iames epistell If the offering of Isaac is a testimonie of the faith and righteousnesse of Abraham He coulde not be iustyfied by it but rather it was therby declared that he was iustifyed alreadye So that this obedience of his Rom. 4. which he shewed vnto the word of the Lord did only manifest and shew that he was when he beleued Gods promises made ryghteous before God throughe the same fayth and beleue wherwyth he was so strengthened that geuynge the glorye vnto God he perswaded him selfe fullye that he which had promised was also able to do the thynge that he
For that is one of the thinges which the enemies do stoutely denye PHILALETHES Er I do satisfye your desire I doe intende to aledge yet two or three golden sentences out of the Apostel which canne not well be omitted in thys case The firste shall ye haue in the Epistel to Titus Titu 3. where he writteth on this wyse Not by the workes of righteousnes which we had done but according to his mercye he saued vs that we beinge iustified by his grace shoulde be made heyrs accordinge too the hope of eternall lyfe The second is muche like vntoo this and is setfoorth in the second Epistell to Timothee after thys maner God hathe saued vs 2. Timo. 1. and called vs with an holye callinge not accordinge to our workes The purpose of God doth exclude al merites and deseruings froÌ„ the iustification of man but according to his own purpose and grace whiche was geuen vnto vs throughe Christ Iesus afore the worlde was Truely whersoeuer this purpose of God is there workes merits or deseruinges can take no place in the iustification or saluation of man Wherby it must nedes folowe as we can gather none other of the sentences nowe aleadged that by the free mercy and goodnesse of God apprehended and taken hold vpon by fayth we are deliuered from oure synnes and from euerlasting damnation and made felowe heyers with his sonne Iesu Christ whose righteousnesse he doth impute vnto vs of his eternall and euerlastinge kingdome of heauen All these thinges I say do we obtain throughe fayeth onely withoute anye merites goynge before DIDIMVS Say what ye wil the enemies do styll whisper in to the eares of the symple and ignoraunt persons that this is but a newe sounde doctrine and that none of all the auncient doctours did euer teache it PHILALETHES Ye myght haue learned that thys is playne falâ—e in the autority that we haue already broughte out of saint Augustine Aug. 83. questionuÌ„ questione â–ª 76 Glossa ordinaria whose wordes are these Quod Abraham per fideÌ„ sine operibus iustificatus est de operibus quae praecedebant intelligitur quia per opera quae fecit iustus non fuit sed sola fide Whiche we haue alreadye englished thus That Abraham was iustified by faith without workes it is to be vnderstanded of the workes that dyd go before For he was not ryghteous throughe the workes whyche he had done before sed sola fide but by faieth onlye If it be an heresye to saye that faythe onely doeth iustifye let me see how they can excuse Saynte Augustine of heresye Vnto hym maye we ioygne father Ambrose who wrytinge vppon the epistell to the Romayns Amb. in episto ad Romanos ca. 4. speaketh on this manner Iustificari sunt gratis quia nihil operantes neque vicem reddentes sola fide iustificati sunt dono dei That is to saye They were iustyfied freelye for they worckynge nothinge nor makinge anye recompence they were iustifyed throughe faythe onelye by the gyfte of God Agayne in the same place these be hys wordes Sic decretum dicit a deo vt cessante lege Ibidem solam fidem gratia dei poscereâ— ad salutem Whyche maye be englyshed thus He sayethe that it was so decreed of God that the lawe beynge at an ende the grace of God shoulde requyre faythe alone or faythe onelye vnto saluation Ibidem These be also his wordes Hoc ipsum munit exemplo prophetae Beatitudinem hominis di it cui deus acceptam fert iustitiam sine operibus Beatos dicit quibus hoc sanxit deus vt sine labore et aliqua obseruatione sola fide iustificentur apud deum That is to say he doeth strengthene or fense this by the example of the prophette He saith that the same man hath blessedfulnes or that blessedfulnes pertained and belongeth to that man vnto whom God imputeth righteousnesse withoute workes he calleth them blessed vnto whom God had made this decree that wythoute laboure and withoute anye obseruation they shoulde by faith onely be iustified before God And in an other place Idem in 9. ca. ciusdem epistolâ—e Sola fides ad salutem posita est Faythe onelye sayeth he is appoynted vnto saluation Ye maye see nowe howe many tymes this olde father doth vse this worde sola alone or only which the aduersaries or enemies doe accuse of heresye But let vs heare what the other auncient fathers do say concerning this matter these are Ieroms words vpon the Epistle to the Romains Ieronimus in 10. caput episto ad Ro. Ignorantes quod sola fide iustificat deus et se ex operibus legis quam numquaÌ„ custodierunt iustos esse putantes noluerunt se subijcere remissioni peccatorum ne peccatores fuisse viderentur That is to saye They not knowinge that God iustifieth by faith onely and supposing them selues to be iust by the works of the law whiche they neuer obserued they would not submit them selues vnto the remission of synnes leaste they shoulde seeme too haue bene synners EVTRAPELVS By this autoritye that ye haue aleadged oute of Ierome two thinges maye be learned Firste and foremost we learne that God doeth iustifye by fayth only which of the enemies is coumpted playn heresye whervpon we maye conclude that they be wrapped in the same moste pestiferous ignoraunce that the scribes and Pharisees were wrapped in What credit ought to be geuen vnto the enemies of the truth and what sâ—aÌ„full ignoraunce they be wrapped in and that therfore no credit ought to be geuen vnto them nor yet to their doctrine For why thei be altogether ignoraunt in the highest and moste principall poynte of our religion causinge the people to seeke for saluation wher there is nothinge elles but desperation and shippewracke of conscyence Secondlye we see here moste euidentlye the cause whye the scribes and Pharisees Why the scribes Pharises wer vtter enemies vnto the gospell Luc. 18. were suche extreme enemies vnto the gospel which offereth vnto all them that wyll beleue in oure sauioure Iesu Christ free pardone and remission of their sinnes Forsoth they iustyfyed them selues that they were perfect and withoute synne Lest then they shuld lose any part of their estimation for thei sought their owne glorye more than the glorye of God they woulde in nowyse submitte them selues vnto the doctryne of the remyssion of sinnes nor yet receaue the generall pardone that was offered vnto them of God For then they muste needes to haue acknowledged them selues with the other to haue bene sinners But they would none of that beinge in this pointe moste like vnto oure greate Rabbis Why our great rabbis will not acknowledge their errour whiche althoughe their conscyences beare them recorde that they be in a moste pernicious errour and haue most shamefully deceiued the people yet because they wyll not mynishe one iote of their reputation that they haue hadde amonge simple and
haue done the other the mouthes of suche blasphemours myghte ones bee stopped EVTRAPELVS That whiche ye saye good neyghbour maye rather be wyshed than hoped or loked for The maliciousnesse of the enemies of the truth For suche is the wickednesse of the ennemyes of the truthe that nothing canne be so well spoken or so Godlye set foorthe but that they be alwayes moste readye too calumnyate and blaspheme the same As for an example oure brother Philalethes that the profyt of our laste talke and communication that we haue had touchinge predestination the diuine prouidence of God and of free wyll mighte come to manye did cause it to be published and set foorthe in prynte But Lorde God how is he rayled agaynst How is his Godlye trauaile and labour taken of the moste sorte of men And yet in it all thynges are made so playne that the simplest manne in the worlde maye haue edifyinge by it And all the obiections that coulde be made so pightelye bothe by the scryptures and also by the authorytyes of the auncyente fathers aunswered that anye resonable manne woulde holde him selfe satisfied ALBION Who be they think ye Who thei be that storme at the doctrine of predestination brother Eutrapelus that thus so vngodlye storme agaynste this most coumfortable doctrin of predestination and of the diuine prouidence of God Euen a sort of Atheistes and swinyshe Epicures whose gruntinge we oughte not to regarde or to care for How be it Atheistes are in English called Godlesse I do not doubte but that there be many that now speake euyl of the doctrine which if they had red the booke throughoute with sober iudgement and with a single eie woulde lyke it well ynoughe yea and receiue vnspeakable coumfort by it PHILALETHES I knewe rightwel when I toke the matter in hande that I shoulde styrre vp many enemies againste me But should I therfore haue kepte close and hidden from the faithfull congregation that thinge whiche the holy ghost wyll haue to be reueled to al his electe and chosen people God forfende that for feare of the dyspleasure of men We ought not for feare of the displeasure of men hyde the truthe or of the hatered of the wicked worlde we should counceale or hyde anye truthe Ye shal see that thei wil no lesse rage at this doctrine of the iustification of faith when they shal heare that God without anye workes or merits going before doeth frely iustifye vs through faith onelye in his sonne Iesus Christ our lorde sauiour then they do at the doctrine of predestinatiō Wil thei not by by crye out and say that by thys doctrine al maner of good works are cleane taken awaye and quite ouerthrowen For who being perswaded that faith onely iustifieth wil geue him self to do good workes or to leade a Godlye lyfe and Christianlike conuersation But yet we muste not because of these blasphemies of the wicked enemies of the truthe leaue of therfore to teache and set foorth the truthe of this doctrine What scope or marke we ought too shut at in settinge foorth the doctrin of the iustifycation of fayth that the holle glorye of oure saluation in despight of the deuyll and of all hys Aungels maye onelye and solelye be geuē vnto the merits of the death passyon and bloudesheddynge of the onely begotten sonne of God our sauioure Iesu Christe ALBION Therfore brother Philalethes that we maye somewhat the better be edifyed in thys matter and also edifye other we doe mooste earnestlye desire you that ye wyl sith that we are now at leasure and haue nothinge els to do set foorth at large this holle doctrine of iustification For manye are yet verye blinde and ignoraunte in it DYDIMVS Yea ye shal finde many euē among the learned papistes that dare boldely saye that this phrase or maner of speaking Sola fides iustificat Faith only iustifieth is but newly inuented of the heresykes of oure time and that none of all the aunciente wryters of the primitiue church did euer vse it eyther in theyr sermons or wrytinges EVTRAPELVS The popes kingdome is a kingdom of lyes Thys is not the fyrst lye that they haue made But as their kingdome is a kingdome of lyes so with lyes do they laboure and studye for to mayntayne it PHILALETHES And that I trust shall well appeare or euer we haue made an end of this oure talke and communication For I wyll aleadge so manye autorities and places oute of the auneyente wryters of the primytyue churche wher they do plainlye affyrme wyth vs that fayth onlye doth iustify that al mē be they neuer so simple shal easely perceaue how shamefully they haue belied vs oure doctrine that of a malitious mind they haue most traiterously hiddē the truth frō the saith ful congregation of gods people But or euer we go any farther I thinke it best too declare in what signification this woorde to iustyfye oughte to be taken As far as we cā learn this word whence this word iusticare to iustify hath bene borowed and what it signifieth iustificare to iustify hathe bene of the blessed Apostle sainte Paule borowed of the common vse of the lawe For in iudgement to iustifye a man it is too assoyle or quyte him of the crime that is layed to his charge or that he is accused of and to pronounce him righteous iust innocente and giltlesse After the same maner when we saye that God doeth iustifye vs our meaning is that God doth assoile and quite vs of al the crimes offences and trespasses that cā be laid to our charge or that we can be accused of and that he doethe pronounce vs iuste and righteous in his sighte That is to saye That first he doeth pardon and forgeue vs our sinnes he couerethe them and doethe in no wise impute thē vnto vs but imputeth vnto vs righteousnesse not oure owne which is none at all but the righteousnesse of his sōne Iesu Christ and so through or by imputinge vnto vs the righteousnesse of hys onely begotten sonne he doth both saue vs and make vs blessed So doeth the holy Apostle expound this our iustification saying As Dauid doeth set foorth the blessedfulnes of the mā vnto whō God imputethe righteousnesse wtout works where he saith blessed are those Ro. 4. whose iniquities are forgeuen whose sinnes are couered-Blessed is the man vntoo whome the Lord imputeth no sinne Psal 32. EVTRAPELVS By these fewe wordes that ye haue now alleadged anye man maye easelye learne wherin our iustyfication doth consiste that our iustification consisteth in the forgeuenesse of sinnes and imputation of the righteousenesse of Christ Wherby the vayne and founde opinion of those that wil haue vs to be iustified by workes is cleane ouerthrowen ALBION I wold sayn that our brother Philalethes shoulde briefelye declare vnto vs What it is to be iustified by workes what it is to be iustifyed by workes and
iustifie vs nor yet deliuer vs from oure sins to this ende that we beinge iustified shoulde by oure yll lyfe dishonoure his name or blemishe his grace asthoughe he did not detest and abhorre synne but that we shoulde serue to the glory of him that hath wroughte oure saluation The first frute of oure iustyfication The firste fruite then of oure iustification is that the glorye of the righteousnesse of God maye be declared and sette foorthe Thys doeth the Apostell meane when he sayeth They are iustyfied frelye by his grace throughe the redemption whyche is in Christe Iesu whome God hath set foorth to be apourchasser of mercye thorowe fayth in his bloude too declare his righteousnesse Rom. 3. by the forgeuenesse of synnes Agayne Abraham dyd not doubte of the promes of God through vnbeleue but was strengthened in the faith and gaue glorye to God beinge fullye assured Rom. 4. that he which had promissed was able to do it He therefore that doethe beleeue the promsies of god doth gloryfy him geuing him the glory of truth and of power or might And to this end is he iustified The second frute of our iustificatioÌ„ Rom. 5. that the glorye of his goodnesse may be set foorth The second is the peace of our coÌ„sciences wherof the Apostel speaketh on this maner We being iustified throughe faithe haue peace toward God throughe oure Lorde Iesus Christe EV. Where this peace is The peace of coÌ„science doeth exclude wauering or doubtfulnesse of minde there can be no place for wauering or doubtfulnes which the scole men of our time are wont to teach For doubtfulnes and thys peace of conscience are altogether repugnaunt one to an other PHI. We haue not onely by iustification peace of conscience but also a reioycinge whiche can in no wise stand with doubtfulnes And therby do we reioyce vnder the hope of the glory of God Rom. 5. also in tribulations It is so farre of theÌ„ that we ought to doubt of the grace of god in Christ Iesu that rather he wyll haue vs to be at peace with him in our coÌ„sciences to reioyce froÌ„ our very heartes vnder the hope of his glorye and therefore doeth he iustifye vs freelye throughe fayth in Christ The thyrde frute of our iustification Thirdely this iustification doeth tende also and pertayne to the glory of them that be iustified as the Apostel him selfe doth testifye sayinge Whom he hath ordayned before them hath he called and whome he hathe called them hath he iustified Rom. 8. and whom he hath iustified them hathe he glorified DIDI Obiecti ∣ on 6 These thinges are spoken of the Apostell asthoughe the iustified were alreadye in the full possession of their glory For these are his wordes whome he hathe iustifyed them hath he also glorified But I am of opinion that they that bee iustyfied throughe faythe in Christe shall not haue their full glorye vntill the second comminge of the sonne of manne who wyll then transfourme and chaunge theyr vyle bodyes and make them lyke vnto his glorious bodye EVTRA. Ye muste vnderstande Aunswer that the holye ghoste vseth this maner of speakinge for too declare the certayntye and infalliblenesse of Gods promises For when God doethe promysse anye thinge The certaynetye of Gods promisse we maye be as sure and certayne of it as if it were alreadye perfourmed and fulfilled Sith then that God hathe promyssed to glorifie them whome he doth iustifie throughe faythe in his sonne Iesu Christe we must holde them for glorifyed alreadye althoughe we do yet throughe hope looke for the glorye of the children of God PHILA Ye haue sayed verye well The .4 frute of our iustification Nowe the fourthe fruite of our iustification is this God doth freelye by his grace iustifye vs in Christe to the ende that we maye be both saued and made pertakers of eternall lyfe For thus writeth the Apostell in hys epistell to Titus But when the bountefulnes loue of God our sauiour towarde man appeared Not by the workes of righteousnesse whiche we had done but according to his merci he saued vs by the wasshinge of the new byrthe the renewing of the holy ghost which he shed on vs aboundaÌ„tli through Iesu Christ our sauiour That we beinge iustified by his grace should be made heyres according to the hope of eternall lyfe Paull doeth call the word of this doctrin vndoubted because of the infallible truthe and certaintye of it Therfore I do greatly meruayl at the stupiditie or dullenesse of the enemies whiche will not see the comfortable light of thys doctrine nor feele this inestimable grace whiche they doe so sore impugne or fight against in the elect and chosen of God The fifte frute of our iustyfication As for the fifth frute of our iustification it doeth most chiefly pertayne to the holines of lyfe to the studie exercise of righteousnesse Whereof the Apostle doth warne vs in the .vi. to the Romains saying Now beinge made free from sinne and made seruaÌ„ts vnto God ye haue youre fruyte in holines And in the first to the Corinthians these be his wordes be not deceyued 1. Cor. 6. Neither whoremongers nor Idolaters nor aduoutrers c. shall inherite the kyngedome of God Why the spirit of Christ is geuen vnto them that be iustified And suche were some of you but ye are wasshed but ye are sanctified but ye are iustified in the name of the Lorde Iesus and by the spirite of our God By which wordes he doeth admonish them that sith they were iustified they ought froÌ„ thensfoorth to geue them selues to godlinesse to holinesse of lyfe and to righteousnes And for this cause is the spirit of Christe geuen vnto theÌ„ that be iustyfied that through hym they may be chaunged in too a newenesse of lyfe Which newnesse beynge receyued by the spirite of God is not the iustificatioÌ„ it selfe but a fruyte of the iustification DYDIMVS Thys doctrine lykethe me nowe better and better And truelye when I heare you to soundly speake of iustification and of the frutes thereof I can not but maruayle at the shamelesse reportes of the ennemyes whyche do styll blowe abroade that ye are vtter enemies of good workes of holynesse of life and of all Godly exercises of righteousnesse EVTRA. What is it that they wyll be ashamed of saue onlye of well doynge and of well sayinge Whereof the enemies of the truth be ashamed They haue put on whores faces and therefore althoughe they be taken in a manifestlie thei be no more a shamed of it than a common strompet is a shamed of hyr filthye acte PHI. That all the woorlde maye know how shamefully they do misrepâ—rte vs I wyll here declare and setfoorthe what we doo teache commonly of good works The common doctrine of the preachers touching good workes and of the true vses of them First we teache that as all things haue ben created
a kingedome of lyes folio 4. They that are iustified by workes are able or must be be able to aunswere fullye to the iustice of God folio 5. The offeringe of Isaac is a testymonye of the fayth and righteousnesse of Abraham fol. 8. This word to iustify is otherwise taken of Paul then of Iames. fo 9. To attribute iustificatiō vnto any merites goyng before is a derogation of the grace of God fo 12. The enemies of the truth are to be likened to the Arians fol. 15. The purpose of God doeth exclude all merites and deseruinges from the iustification of man fo 17 The fathers were to be blamed that do affyrme fayth onely to iustify if that doctrine wer not true fo 24 The history of Cornelius fo 30 The frutes of iustification fo 31 The firste frute of iustifycation folio eodem The 2. frute of iustification fo 32. The certaynety of Gods promise folio 33. The .4 frute of iustificatiō fo eodē The .5 frute of iustificatiō fo eodē The common doctrin of preachers touching good works fol. 35. The deuil did peruerte the ende of our creation which Christ restored agayne fo eodem The works of the papistes fo 36 They that are enemies of the papistes good workes are enemies of synne and of most detestable abhomination fo 37. Terrible and dreadefull histories folio 38. The order that god had appointed touchinge the Arke fo 39. The historye of Saul fol. 40 The vntrue reporte of the papists folio 43. They the worke for feare are lewde seruauntes fol. 44. The causes whye our good works do please God fo 47. The causes why we canne by our good workes merit no part of our saluation fo 51. The imperfection of our workes folio 57. The inestimable glorye of lyfe euerlastynge doeth cutte awaye all merites fo 59. To attribute any parte of the heauenly felicitye and glorye vnto the merits of men it is to be iniurious vnto the glory of the grace of God folio 62. The exposition of Daniels words folio 63. The diuersity that now is among Aungels shal ceasse at the generall resurrection of the righteous fo 67 To the parable of the talents fo eodē To the place of the .2 to the Cor. fo eo To the place of the .22 of Luc fo 99 The epilogus or cōclusion fo eod Three sortes of people althoughe thei do good works do not deserue the praise of wel doinge fo 73 The perfecte obedience of Christe is imputed vnto vs. foli 73. V. Vzah smitten of the Lord fo 39. Vayn shadowes of men fo 47 W. Why ther is a diuersity in the punishementes of the reprobate and non in the rewarde of the elect and chosen foli 65 Who thei be that can sing the new songe foli 70. Why the true electe are called virgines foli eodem What it is to folowe the lambe whether soeuer he goeth fo eodem Who the be that storme at the doctryne of predestination foli 2. We ought not for the feare of men to hyde the truth fol. 3 What scope or marke we oughte to shote at in settinge foorth the doctrine of iustification of fayth fo 3. What it is to be iustified by workes fo eodē What it is to be iustified by fayth folio 6. What fayeth Abraham was iustified by fo 7 What be the meanes whereby we are iustified or deliuered frome the state of dampnation fol. 11. What Paul vnderstandeth by the workes of the law fo 14. What they must do that wyll enioye the righteousnesse of Christe folio 15. What credyt ought to be geuen to the enemis of the truthe and what shamful ignoraunce thei be wrapped in fo 19. Whye the scrybes and Pharisees were vtter ennemies vnto the gospell fol. eodem Whye our greate rabbies wil not acknowledge theyr errour fo 20 We ar not deliuered frō our sins to this end that we should walow in them agayne fo 23. Why the Athenians woulde here Pauls doctrine fo 29. Why the spirit of Christ is geuen vnto them that be iustified fo 34. Whereof the enemies of the truth be ashamed fo eodem Why man was created fo 35. Why we be regenerate in Christ folio 36. Who they be that are offended at the doctrine of iustification of faith folio 36. Whiche be the true good workes that God doth require of vs. fo 41 Whye the good workes of mercye are set most chieflye foorth vnto vs folio eodem Whiche be the good workes that god hath prepared for vs to walke in foli 42. Whye all they that doe those good workes that God hath commaunded in his word do not deserue the prayse of well doing fo eodem Why fayth is likened to a sparke folio 45. Wherin our iustification doth consyste foli 5. What causeth Turkes and Paynimes to abhorre Christs religion folio 46. Whether our good workes be acceptable vnto God or not fo 47. Whether our good works shal be rewarded or not fo 49. We are all debters vnto god fo 51 Woorkes of supererogation are blasphemous and iniurious to the merits of Christ and therfore they oughte rather to be called workes of derogation fol. 55. Whereupon they grounde them selues that do appoynte diuersities or degrees of glorye in the lyfe to come foli 59. Here endeth the Table ¶ IMPRYNTED at London by Ihon Cysdale and are to be solde at his shoppe in the vpper ende of Lombard strete in Allhallowes churchyard nere vnto grace churche 1561.
hadde promysed thoughe it semed neuer so straunge nor so muche against the common course of nature And therefore the Apostle concludethe ryghte well that it was imputed vnto him for ryghteousnesse EVTRAPELVS As far as I do remember I haue hearde you tell that otherwhyles to be iustifyed is to be declared righteous and iuste As when the prophette Dauid sayeth Psal 51. That thou mayest be iustified in thy wordes ouercome when thou art-iudged that is to saye that thou mayest be declared iuste and thy goodnesse and trueth appeare in performing thy promises when man eyther of curiosite or of arrogaÌ„cie wold iudge thy workes PHILA This is wel remeÌ„bred And therefore this shall we note by the waye This worde to iustifye is other wise takeÌ„ of Paule then of Iames. that this worde to iustifie is not taken of Paul in that signification that saincte Iames doeth take it in For of Paul it is taken for to deliuer from syn and for to impute righteousnesse but Iames doeth take it for to declare one iuste and righteous Agayne Paul speaketh of a liuely faythe whiche can no more be wtout good workes Fayth is not taken of the Apostels in one signyfication than the Sunne can be without light or fyer with out heate But Iames speaketh of an idell and deadde faythe whiche maye be in the reprobate yea in the diuell hym self as the Apostell writteth in thesame place Moreouer whether ought one texte too geue place to many or manye too geue place to one One text must geue place to manye DYDI. It standeth with reason that one texte shoulde rather geue place too manye than that manye should geue place to one PHILALE For this one text of Iames that semeth to attribute iustifycation vntoo workes how manye notable textes and sentences shal ye fynde in the other Canonicall scriptures that teach the contrarye ALBION And we do all pray you brother Philalethes that ye will aleadge the chiefest and most principall of theÌ„ For as touching that place which thei do aleadge bring out of the second chapiter of Iames ye haue well satisfied my mind I thanke god therfore PHI. That wil I gladli do yea I wil be sides this ioigne vnto the autorities of the scriptures word of God the sayinges of the aunciaunt fathers of the primitiue churche that so the enemies of the trueth whiche doe moste lyengly blowe abrode that we haue no suche stuffe maye at length seing our greate rychesse vtterly be shamed and confouÌ„ded DIDIMVS Forsothe in so doinge ye shal do vs all a greate pleasure PHILALETHES I might here bring many notable sentences out of the olde and new Testament wherein the excellencye of faith is highly setfoorth but I wil at this present omitte or leaue theÌ„ and aledge only those places that do most chiefly perteyne to iustification Act. 13. Firste in the Actes of the Apostles we haue these wordes written in the sermoÌ„ that Paul made vnto the Iewes that were at Antiochia a cytte of Pisidia Be it knoweÌ„ vnto you therfore brethern that through this maÌ„ is preached vnto you the forgeuenesse of synnes And that from all thinges froÌ„ whiche ye coulde not be iustified by the law of Moses by hym eueri one that beleueth is iustified These wordes are so playne that they nede no exposition at al. For all men onelesse they will be wilfully blynde styll maye easely see that he taketh awaye altogether iustification from the lawe of Moses Iustification is taken awaye all together from the lawe of Moses atributed vnto faith and doeth attribute it vntoo fayth in our sauiour Iesu Christe But in the Epistel to the RomaiÌ„s the holy apostell maketh the matter more playne where he sayeth They haue all synned and are destituted or voyde of the glorie of God But they are iustified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus Rom. 3. whoÌ„ God hath setfoorthe too be a pourchasser of mercy through fayth in his bloude Let these wordes be diligentely considered and weyghed and then I do not doubt but that they that be of an indifferente iudgemente wyl sone agree vnto our doctrine First the Apostle sayeth that they haue all synned and that they are depriued of the glorye of God By whiche wordes he doth most liuelye put before oure eyes the myserable estate that whole mankind was in Secondly he doth effectuouslye shewe how and by what meanes we are deliuered from it I meane What be the meanes wherby we are iustified or deliuered from the 〈◊〉 of dampnation frome that dampnable estate that we are in by our owne nature and fyrst byrthe when he sayeth But they are iustifyed frelye by his grace Nowe if we be iustified frely by the grace of God wher are our works merits or deseruings become For if any workes deseruinges or merits do go before oure iustification how can it be sayed that we are iustifyed freelye by the grace of God oure heauenlye father EVTRAPELVS In deede it might rather be saied that we are iustified in respecte of oure owne workes and merites And so the sayinge of the Apostell coulde not stande where he sayth in an other place By grace ye are saued thorowe fayth Epho 2. and that not of youre selues it is the gyft of God not of workes leaste anye man shoulde boaste him selfe Whereunto the sayinge of a moste aunciente wryter semeth wel to agree His wordes are these Ambrosius de vocatione gentium li. 1. capi 5. Sicut nulla sunt tam detestanda facinora quae possunt gratiae arcere donum ita nulla possunt tam proeclara opera existere quibus hoc quod gratis tribuitur perretributionis iudicium debeatur Vilesceret enim redemptio sanguinis Christi ac miserecordia del humanorum operum praerogatiuae succumberet si iustificatio quae fâ—t pergratiam praecedentibus meritis deberetur vt non munus largientis sed merces esset operantis That is to saye As there be no synnes so detestable that can kepe of the gyft of grace so there can be no workes so excellente that vnto them by the iudgement of retribution or recompence the same shuld be due which is freely geuen and graunted For the redemption of the bloud of Christe shoulde waxe vyle and the mercye of God be fayne to geue place to the prerogatiue of mens works if iustificatioÌ„ which is don or wrought by grace were due vnto the merits that go before so that it shoulde not be the free gyfte of the gyuer but the rewarde or hyre of the worker What other thinge I besech you doeth this holy father meane but that we are without any merites goynge before iustified frely by the mere goodnesse and grace of God To attribute iustification vnto any merites going before is a derogation of the grace of God through faith in the bloud of his sonne Iesu Christ Yea he doeth playnely affirme that it is a derogation of
our sauiour Iesus Christ his wordes Luc. 17. When ye haue done what so euer I commaunde you saye ye we are vnprofitable seruaūtes But because that throughe fayth we haue felowship with the onlye begotten sonne of God Rom. 10. whereby it cometh to passe that his perfect obedience is imputed vnto vs for our owne and al that is wanting and lacking in vs in our workes is most perfettly supplied by it As the Apostell doeth testifye sayinge Christ is the fulfyllinge of the lawe for to iustifye all them that do beleue And in an other place Christ is made vnto vs of God holines wisedome righteousnesse and redemption Secondely our good dedes shall be rewarded or crouned because that god of hys mere mercy hath bound him selfe thereto by his promisses as it hath ben declared before by the textes that wee haue aleadged Wherunto doeth saynt Augustin agree Augu. in psa 32.109 and in manye other places where he sayeth Fidelis dominus qui se nobis debitorem fecit non aliquid a nobis accipiendo sed omnia nobis promittendo That is to saye The Lorde is faithfull who hath made him selfe a debtoure vnto vs not by receauinge anye thynge of vs but by promissinge vnto vs all thinges Here we learn how god is become debtour vnto vs 1. Cor. 4. and hath bounde him selfe to croune or reward our good works not by receauing any thinge of vs for what haue we that we haue not receaued Rom. 11. and if we haue receaued whye doe we boeste or glory asthough we had not receaued Agayne who gaue him fyrste and he shall be recompensed but by his faythfull promisses whiche he hath made vnto his electe and chosen people DYDI. What so euer ye saye of the reward I meane why and wherefore it is geuen vnto oure good workes yet it can not sinke in to my headde but that we may by them meryte or deserue some parte of oure saluation PHI. How coulde that be The causes why we can by our good workes merit no part of oure saluation neyghboure Dydimus syth that we are not our owne men but are wholye the Lordes of whome we haue bene created fyrst and afterwardes redemed from synne and eternall death by the price of his bloude Ye are bought sayeth S. Paule wyth a greate price And in an other place We are the Lords whether we lyue or dye None of vs do lyue vnto him selfe What merite then canne we pretende 1. Cor. 6. or what rewarde canne we claime of him whose we are wholye or altogether Therfore eyther let vs take away this absolute power of God which he hath ouer vs all as ouer his owne peculiar good Rom. 14. or let vs acknowledge that it is not meete for seruauntes to boaste and bragge of theyr meryttes agaynste theyr master nor yet to aske for rewardes If the master doeth accepte the faithfulnesse and diligence of his seruaunt and doth impute it vnto him for a meritte iudginge him worthye to be made free that oughte to be attributed vnto his goodnesse and not vnto dutye as thoughe he were bound vnto him therefore We are all debtours vnto God when we haue don all that we can do we haue but paied our debt because that he is faitfull and serueth fayethfully and truly For the seruaunt so doinge doeth but his dutye and onlesse he shoulde do it he were worthy of punishement No man excepte he be of a singular good nature wyll geue thankes to his debtour because that he hath paied him his debte And the debtour were verye impudente or shamelesse if he as thoughe he had wel merited woulde therefore claime a rewarde because that he hadde payed his debte He that beinge a seruaunte or a debtour doeth that thinge which he is bounde to do can boaste of no merite But such are we al yea when we be alredy made righteous and do the things that we are commaunded to doe Let neuer this sayinge of Christe go out of oure myndes When ye haue done what so euer I haue commaunded you saye ye we are vnprofitable seruaunts But how manye of vs canne do the tenthe parte of that whiche we are commaunded with such a perfection as God requireth What can we then meritte or deserue Adde vnto it that we are not onelye seruaunts and debtours to God in al things but also so void of al goodnesse and Godly strength that we can not as muche as thinke a good thinge 2. Cor. 3. muche lesse that of oure selues we shoulde be able too performe it in dede so that we haue nede that al our sufficiency or ablenesse be ministred vnto vs by the diuine grace of god Therfore the Apostle doth plainlye affirme that it is God Phi. 2. that worketh in vs both the wyl the deede accordinge to his good wyll That then we wyll anye thinge that good is and do in dede perfourme it it cometh not of our owne wyll and strength but it is both the wyll and worke of God workynge in vs accordinge to his good pleasure Whence then haue we oure fayth loue hope the fear of God patience in aduersitye Whence haue we oure good wyl and strength to doe good If we haue these thinges of our selues we haue wherein to glorye or reioyce But if we haue al these thinges of the gratuite and fre grace of God what doth it folow but that we ought rather to geue thankes to the goodnesse of God than to Obiecti ∣ on 8 boaste of our merites EVTRAPE I was once in a place where they made this obiection agaynste me Be not these saye they the wordes of the Apostell 2. Timo. 4. I haue foughte a good fight and haue fynished my course I haue kept the fayth from hence foorihe then is layed vp for me the croune of righteousnesse whyche the Lorde the righteouse iudge shall geue me at that daye What coulde be spoken more playnelye than thys For the Apostell doth make mention both of the worke that he hadde done and also of the rewarde that he loked for at Gods handes DYDI. I would fayne heare what answer ye made vnto them For this obiection is made many tymes againste you of them that be of a contrarye iudgemente and opinion Aunswer EVTRA. I aunswered them out of saint Augustine where he writeth on this maner An non ipse dedit vt bonum certamen certares Sinō ipse dedit quid est Aug. in 50. homelis 14. home quod alio leco dicis Plus illis omnibus laboraui Non autem ego sed gratia dei mecum Ecce iterum dicis Cursum consummaui Non et ipse dedit vt cursum consūmares Si non ipse dedit vt cursum consūmares quid est quod alto loco dicis nō volentis ne que currentis sed miserntis est dei Fidem seruaui Seruasti Agnosco et probo fateor seruasti Sed nisedominus custodierit ciuitatem invanum