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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	abraham_n	faith_n	perfect_a	4,924	5	9.0614	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A70152	An ansvver to a popish pamphlet called the touch-stone of the reformed gospell. made speciallie out of themselves. By William Guild, D.D. and preacher of Gods word.	Guild, William, 1586-1657.	1656 (1656)	Wing G2202; ESTC R221580	101,567	372

faith for a man himself as wee may see Math. 7. 22. The second place is Iam. 2. 24. where it is said Yee see therfore how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only To which I answer That beside O Ecumenius Theodoret and Beda on this place their owne Aquinas showeth the true meaning thereof Who objecting to this place Rom. 3. 20. where it is said by the deeds of the Law no flesh shall be justified in his sight he reconcileth them thus I answere sayeth he that to justifie may be taken two wayes either for the execution or for the manifestation of our justification and this way indeed a man is justified by works that is he is declared and manifested to bee just or it is taken for the infused habit of righteousnes and this way no man is justified by works sayeth he Likewise sayeth Doctour Paes a Portugall Frier The meaning of these words That Abraham was justified by works may be this as Theodoret expoundeth that he was declared just which exposition I approve most sayeth he The third place is Iam. 2. 14. where the Apostle sayeth What doth it profit though a man say hee hath faith not works can that faith saue him I answere 1. That the Apostle sayeth not Though a man haue faith but Though he say hee hath faith showing therby that an alleadgance onlie of faith availeth not to salvation 2. A● their Estius with us showeth it is said ther that a dead and fruitlesse faith onlie according to the Apostles words verse 17. and 18. availeth not to salvation nor can be called a justifying faith The fourth place is Gal. 5. 6. Neither Circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing but faith which worketh by loue which place is coincident with the former and doeth nowise militat against our doctrine of Iustification as the words of our cōfession anno 1581. and 1647. c. 11. testifieth saying That faith receiving and relying onlie on Christ and his righteousnes is the onlie instrument of our Iustification ●et it is not alone in the person justified but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces and is no dead faith but worketh by loue And that this is also the doctrine of all other reformed Churches their own Cassander witnesseth consult art 4. As also Bellarmin lib. 1. de Iustif cap. 14. saying Iohn Calvin in his Antidote of the Councell cap. 11. Sess 6. sayeth That it is faith onlie that justifieth but yet not fayth which is alone as the heate of the sunne is that onlie which heateth the earth yet heate is not alone in the sunne but their is light also joyned with it the same also sayeth he doth Melancton Brentius Chemnitius teach with others And as for Fathers whom hee citeth or whose words he setteth downe such as Ambrose saying That faith alone sufficeth not Augustin that faith onlie saveth not without observing Gods Commandements they militat nowise against out doctrine as wee see confessed But I admire at the impudence or ignorance of this Pamphleter who in the next place ascribeth to us that we hold That good works are not necessarie to salvation whereas in the contrarie These are the words of our Confession of faith cap. 16. concerning their necessitie That they are the fruits and evidences of a true and livelie faith and by them Believers manifest their thankfulnes strengthneth their assurance edifieth their brethren adorneth the profession of the gospell stops the mouth of the adversaries and glorisieth God whose workmāship they are created in Christ thereunto that having their fruit in holines they may haue the end life eternall being as Bernard speakes via Regni non causa regnandi 22. THat good works are not meritorious VVHich he sayeth is contrarie to Math. 16. 27. where it is said That Christ at his second cōming shall reward every one according to his works To which I will answere onlie in the words of Pope Gregorie in psal 7. poenit verba fac auditam who sayeth thus If the felicitie of the saints be mercie and not acquired by merits where is that which is written who shall render to every one according to his works If it be rendred then according to works how shall it be esteemed mercie but it it one thing sayeth he according to ones works and another thing to render for the works themselves For in that it ●● said according to his works the qualitie of the work is understood that whose works are seene to be good his reward shall be also glorious as whose works are evill his reward shall be contrarie but as to that eternal life which we haue of God with God no labour can be equalled sayeth he no works can be compared Therfore also sayes their late Ferus on Rom. 2. 6. All that this word according doeth import in relation to good works is that the doing of them is a requisite condition without any sort of meriting sayeth he The second place is Math. 5. 11. Rejoyce and bee glad for great is your reward in heaven As also Math. 10. 42. That a cup of cold water given to one of Christs shall not want it reward Whereunto I answere 1. That we deny not but that good works haue their reward abyding them for so sayth our Confessiō of faith 1647. cap. 16. art 6. That the Lord looking on believers in his Son it pleased hi● to accept reward that which is sincere altho accompanyed with many weaknesses and imperfections But wee distinguish and say that there is a reward in mercie wherof Hosea speaketh 10. 12. saying Sowe in righteousnes and reape in mercie As also the Apostle 2. Tim. 1. 16. 17. And there is a reward of merite called wages Rom. 6. 23. Where the Apostle sayeth The wages of sinne is death but by way of opposition he sayeth Life eternall is the free gift of God upon which place therfore sayeth Cardinall Cajetan according to Augustins like words de gra lib. arb cap. 9. The gift of God is Eternall life that we may understand sayeth he that it is not for our merits but of the free gift of God that in end we attaine to eternall life So also speaketh Lombard That we may understand that God bringeth us to eternall life sayeth he for his owne mercie sake and not for our merits So also speaketh their Ferus on Iohn 3. and Math. 20 Gabriel Biel on the the Canon of the Masse lect 47. ●nd others yea Bellarmin himself lib. 5. de Iustif cap. 19. confesseth That this hath beene the common and constant judgement of Divines in the Roman Church as Thomas Bonaventure Scotus Durand a●d others that God rewardeth good works of his meer liberalitie aboue any condignitie Flat cōtrar to that blasphemous speech of the Rhemists on Heb. 6. 10. saying That our good works are so fullie worthie of eternall life which God of his justice oweth to the workers ●f the same that he should be

rejoyce in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is wanting of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his bodies sake which is the Church To which I answere The true meaning of these words in their own Aquinas words on this place is this saying These words according to the superfice might haue an ill sense as if Christs passion were not sufficient for our redemption but for filling up that which wants the sufferings of the saints wer to be added but this is hereticall sayeth he for the blood of Christ is sufficient for the redemption of many worlds himself being the propitiation for our sinnes but it is to be understood sayeth he that Christ and his Church make up but one mysticall person whose head is Christ and all the godlie are his bodie members thereof this then was wanting that as Christ had suffered in his naturall bodie so he was to suffer in Pauls person as a member of his mysticall bodie Christs sufferings in his bodie being for the redemptiō of his Church but the sufferings of the saints for the Church being for this that by their example the Church may be confirmed sayeth he where we see that the sufferings of the saints serve to the church for cōformity confirmation but not as this Pamphleter would haue them to be a treasure for papall indulgences to bring in a treasure of money to the popes coffers The second place which he brings is Philip. 2. 30. wherein Paul exhorteth the Philippians to receiue Epaphroditus with all gladnes because for the work of Christ hee was neare to death to supplie their work of service towards him which as Aquinas says They were not able in their owne persons to performe to him which words of Paul no more proveth the Pamphleters point wherat he aimeth of the benefit of popish indulgences then that Rome is in Vtopia but showeth both his usuall impertinencie impudence and ignorance 18. THat no man can do works of supererogation VVHich he sayeth is contrarie to Math. 19. 21. wher our Saviour sayeth to the young rich-man If thou will be perfect go sell all that which thou hast and give to the poor c. and follow me whēce it plainlie appeareth sayeth he that a man by the assistance of Gods grace may do somthings counselled which are of more perfection than are things commanded To whom I answere 1. in their owne Ferus words on this place saying In these words is implyed that which is necessarie commanded to all to wit Poverty of spirit which is nothing else but with the heart to cleaue to no creature neither doeth the kingdome of heaven belong to any but to such as do so sayeth he 2. This cōmand to this young at this time to sell all was a personall cōmand given for this end to discover this young mans covetousnes and hypocrisie in saying he had keeped the whole law from his youth like that personall command given to Abraham of sacrificing Isaac to discover his great faith and obedience to all after ages And wee know that such personall cōmands for tryall or discovery doth not tye all 3. The perfection of Angels is to do Gods Commandements as wee see Psal 103. 20. and in that petition of the Lords prayer Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven Yea Christs owne perfection was in this the doing of his Fathers will shall wretched sinfull man be able to go beyond the perfectiō of these The second place which he bringeth is 1. Cor. 7. 25. Now concerning virgins I haue no Commandement of the Lord yet I give my judgement we reade counsell sayeth hee and to do that which is counselled is not necessarie because one nevertheless may bee saved sayeth he To which place I answere 1. Not only the origin●ll hath the word judgemēt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not counsell but also Cardinall Cajetan acknowledgeth the same on that place ingenouslie 2. By command the Apostle meaneth a generall command oblieging all persons at all times as the precepts of the Morall Law do and concerning such special cōmands of living single and keeping virginitie hee showeth that he hath no such Cōmandement of the Lord but in regard of the present condition of Christians lyable to daylie persecution he declares his judgement only that to live single in the estate of virginitie it is better then to liue in a married estate for their owne good but not that thereby they could supererogat at Gods hands therfore leaving it in the meane time free to every one to do as God hath distributed to every one his gifts as he speaketh 1. Cor. 7. 17. 3 Gerson de consult evang statu perfect and with him their Paludanus in lib. 3. sent d. 34. q. 3. do teach That some may attaine to as great hight of perfection living in marriage and possessing riches as we see in Abraham Iob as they who liue single or in the estate of povertie As also Jansenius in his concord on the Evangelists cap. 100. alleadging the authoritie of Aquinas teacheth That the perfection of a Christian life consisteth essentiallie in keeping of Gods Commandements Aquin 2 2. q. 184. art 3. and as we see Philip. 4. 8. beyond which in performance can no flesh go Lastlie We find in scripture Gods counsell to man his cōmand to be all one as these places testifie psal 73. 24. Prov. 1. 25. 30. Jer. 49. 20. Act. 20. 27. and Revel 3. 18. How soever with man it may be said as it is proverbiall Counsell is no command The third place which he bringes is Math. 19 12. There be Eunuchs who haue made themselves so for the kingdome of heaven he that is able to receive it let him receive or keepe it now of precepts it is not said keepe them who may or is able but keep thē absolutlie sayeth he For answere 1. Let him hear the Iesuite Maldonats exposition upon this place saying The words receive it in this place signifieth the same as to understand for Christ thereby would say no other thing than elswhere hee useth to speake of any grave matter saying he that hath eares to heare let him heare sayeth he 2. These Eunnchs that made thēselves such that is lives as Eunuchs chastlie and in a single life the text sayeth that they did it for themselves to attaine to the kingdome of heaven which everie one is bound to do and not to supererogat for others As for Origens words which hee alleadgeth on the 1. Rom. 15. saying These things which we do over aboue our dutie I find nowise in that place and though they were yet we must distinguish betweene duties to which wee are bound by a generall precept common to all as hath beene said duties to which we are not so bound but left to the performance therof according as every one findeth himself gifted or not which answere serveth also to that place alleadged out of