Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
faith_n	abraham_n	righteousness_n	seal_n	9,017	5	9.6941	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A06513	[A methodicall preface prefixed before the epistle to the Romanes ...] Made by the right reuerend father in and faithfull seruant of Christ Iesus, Martin Luther ...; Praefatio in Epistolam Pauli ad Romanos. English	Luther, Martin, 1483-1546.; Wilkinson, William, d. 1613, attributed name.; Watkinson, William, fl. 1573-1594, attributed name.	1632 (1632)	STC 16986; ESTC S105157	20,999	82

and Gentile notwithstanding that the Iewes are preferred excell the Gentiles in this prerogative namely for that the pormises of God did belong to them also for that the words and Oracles of God were committed vnto them And thogh some of the Iewes did not believe yet for all that their vnbeliefe made not the faithfull trueth of Gods promises vaine voyde or without effect and to prove this he alledgeth that place of the 51. Psalme as it is written saith hee that thou mightest bee justified in thy wordes and overcome when thou art judged After this hee returneth to his cause and purpose and proveth by the Scriptures that all are equallie sinners without any exception that no man is justified by the workes of the law but that only by the lawe commeth the knowledge of sinne Finally he teacheth the true right ways of righteousnes and salvation All saith hee haue sinned The hye way to righteousnesse is by fayth in Christ and are destitute and deprived o● the glorie of God but they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus whom GOD hath set foorth to bee a reconciliation through faith in his blood And a little before But now saith hee is the rigteousnesse of GOD made manifest without the law being approved by the testimonie and witnesse of the law and the Prophets to wit the righteousnesse of God by the faith of Iesus Christ vnto all and vpon al● that beleeue So then the lawe is established through faith although workes and glorying in the workes of the law are excluded by faith Seeing therfore in the three former Chapters hee hath taught that all men are sinners also sheweth that only faith in Christ is the way vnto righteousnesse and meanes to justification Chap. 4. by and by in this fourth Chap. he answereth to certaine objections and cauils As for the most part when Christ or faith is taught that is that our works are nothing that wee are onely justified by faith streight wayes certaine Iusticiaries object If faith alone doth justifie then we must cease altogether to doe good workes then good works are to be omitted and left vndone The Apostle answereth proposing the example of Abraham What shall wee say then that Abraham our Father hath hath found concerning the flesh Did hee merite nothing at all by his workes He concludeth that Abraham was justified onely by faith without any workes insomuch that the Scripture saith that Abraham before he was circumcised beleeved GOD and it was counted and reputed vnto him for righteousnesse Gen. 15.6 If therefore the worke of circumcision which GOD commaunded which was a precious worke of obedience profited Abraham nothing to justification then it is most sure certaine that there is none other worke which is available to justification An apt similitude But as circumcision being an outward signe was vnto Abraham a seale of his righteousnes by faith so good works are onely an externall signe which doth not justifie but which doth signifie vnto men that a man is inwardly justified before God and they doe testifie and approue as certaine signes and fruits that liuelie faith which worketh in the heart By this as by the most graue weighty and authentik example the Apostle doth cōfirme build out of the Scriptures his doctrine of faith delivered out and taught in the third Chapter Furthermore the Apostle allegeth the testimonie of David in the 32. Psal to proue this matter Also in most plaine words hee affirmeth that a man is justified by the imputation of righteousnesse without works althogh as I haue said before workes doe follow those that are justified by Faith Moreover hee dilateth and amplifieth the example against all other workes of the lawe inferring that the Iewes are not therfore straight way the true heires of Abraham because their stocke and pedigrue is derived from the circumcised Abraham or because they received the lawe vnlesse they tread and follow the steps of saith and beleeving in Christ imitate the faith of Abraham specially and chiefly seeing that Abraham before the law whether it were of Moses or of the circumcision was justified onely by faith and called the father of many nations that is of all beleevers Finally hee concludeth thus Seeing that the lawe cannot giue that effectuall working whereby it may willingly and chearefully be satisfied also seeing that the grudging and murmuring stirred vp by the law abideth and remaineth in vs and disdaineth taketh it grievously that there should bee any positiue ●aw set downe for her I say that this hatred against the law and the law giver God himselfe stil continuing it cannot bee that ●he workes of the law should please God Nay rather seeing ●hey proceed from a heart that ●bhorreth the sawe and God ●hey are nothing else but sinne ●nd doe alwayes incense and kindle the indignation wrath of God Wherefore Faith only doth obtaine the blessing and grace promised to Abraham Now it is not written for him onely but also for vs as Paul saith in the latter ende of this Chapter the faith might also bee imputed and reckened to vs for righteousnes In the fifth Chapter hee intreateth of workes and of the fruits of faith which bee these peace joy of conscience loue towards GOD and our neighbour a profitable couragious bold confidence and a stoute and manfull perseverance and pacient in tribulations and afflictions for streight way these fruits follow wheresoever this true faith is in the heart Surely that most excellent riches and aboundant wealth of the grace of God offered and exhibited to vs in Christ whom GOD would haue dye for vs when wee were as yet weaklings yea enemies to God if so bee by faith it be knowne acknowledged of vs in our hearts it cannot but inflame vs and mak vs strong and able to doe most willingly cherefully and readily all those things which we know will please this our most gentle Father Therefore the chiefe sentence drift and scope of this Epistle stands stedfast and sure namely that by fayth alone wee are justified without workes and yet for all that good workes are not condemned For those workes that indeed and truely may be called good and those good fruits doe follow faith and wheresoever faith is it cannot choose but worke Like as the flame cannot but giue good light Of these that be truly good works the Iusticiaries who have nothing so rise in their mouths as works works works knowe nothing at all They doe but only jmagine in themselves certain cold works which becaus they haue no sparke of faith in them are voyde of all spirituall affections as joy peace of conscience and that bold trust and assurance in God and are rotten fruits of a rotten tree After this the Apostle maketh a pleasant digression shewing how sin righteousnesse also how death life came vpon vs. And there he compareth these two Adam and Christ Wherefore