the same satisfaction whiche Iesus Christe hath made to God his father may be communicated and appiled to vs. THE FOVRTH dialogue is of the iustification and sanctification of man. Of the faith in Iesus Christ and of the Iustification thereby MATHEVV WHyche is the meane whereby to comme to that Communycation wherof thou hast euen nowe spoken and by the whiche wée muste communicate with Iesus Christ Pe. There is none other but the only faith in Iesus Christ For by the same we are iustified before God and not by our workes neyther in all nor in parte M. What is it to be iustified before God P. It is to be accoumpted for iust at his iudgemente as if we had neuer sinned M. How maye this be done by the mean of faith P. Bycause that the spirite of God by whome it is giuen vs doth ioyne vs with Christ as members of his body by the meanes of the same faith in such sorte that the iustice of Christe and all that euer he hath done for vs is imputed and ascribed to vs as though it were our owne proper Of the iustificatiō by faith by vvorks M. WHy is this honoure rather giuen to faith than to works P. Bycause there is no iustice that may satisfie the iudgement of God vnlesse it be perfecte as is that of Iesus Christe M. Why may not that of Iesus Christ be as well allowed vnto vs by our works as by faith P. Bycause that they are things altogither cōtrary to be iustified by faith to be iustified by a mans owne works M. What contrarietie is there in that P. If that man could find iustice in himselfe and in his owne workes whereby he mighte satisfie vnto God he should then haue no neede of that of Iesus Christ Of the satisfactiō tovvards god by works M. ANd if he may not satisfie in euery pointe maye he not yet at the least satisfie in parte P. If he cannot satisfie him in the whole no more can he in parte M. For what cause P. Chiefly for two causes M. Whiche is the firste P. It is that God receyueth no iustice for satisfaction if it be not sound and perfect and worthie of his maiestie as wee haue alreadie touched M. Which is the other P. It is that man being naught and vniust of his nature can doe no worke that may be iust as we haue also sayd if he be not first made good and iust Of the works wherby man may satisfie at the iudgement of God. M. DOest thou meane by this that the good and iuste worke maketh not the man good and iust P. I doe not altogether denie but that the good iust work maketh the man good and iust but I say that mans worke can not doe this bycause there procéedeth none suche from him M. Which is then the work that may doe this P. That of Iesus Christ wherof wée haue spoken heretofore whiche bringeth vnto vs this commoditie when wée are made partakers of hym by the meane of Faythe as wée haue alreadie sayd Of the causes why iustification is attributed to faith only M. SHEwe me nowe for full resolution what is the chiefe cause why iustification is ascribed to faith P. Bicause that in stead of bringing to God any thing that is of man he bringeth him to Iesus christ to receiue of him therby that whiche hée can not fynde in himselfe M. For what cause is this done P. To the ende that man may be founde iust before God not by his owne iustice for he can not but by that of Iesus Christe Of the satisfaction by faith M. THy meaning is then that this iustice of Iesus Christ maketh a man iust before God as though he were wholly innocent forsomuche as GOD estéemeth him for such an one accepting the Iustice of his sonne Iesus Chryste for full satisfaction P. It is so and it bringeth yet beside that an other very great commodity M. What is it P. It is that where as before hée coulde doe nothyng but euill this fayth dothe sanctifie him disposing him to the obedience of the will of God and to all good works to the ende that he may serue to iustice to holynesse where as before he serued to iniustice and to sinne M. How is it that faith doth sanctifie man according to thy saying P. There be two things to consider in this sanctification M. Which is the first P. It is that Iesus Christe hauing taken our owne flesh in the wombe of the Virgin in the which he was conceiued by the working of the holy Ghost hath also sanctified it in his Of which thing beside the testimonie that we haue of the Angell in the holy Scriptures the holy Ghost hath yet yelded more ample testimonie in the baptisme of Iesus Christ when in fourme of a doue he did descend vppon him whiche is our head in whome all his members were foorthwith sanctified M. Which is the other pointe P. It is that faith whiche embraceth and receyueth wholly Iesus Christ with al his gifts and graces is neuer in man without the spirite of him nor the spirite of him without his frutes whiche are altogither contrary to the works of the flesh to witte of the corrupted man that is not regenerate by the spirite of God. Of the true spring of good vvorks M DEclare vnto me if thou vnderstandest by this that faith is the fountaine of all good works and the good roote whiche maketh man a good trée to beare good frute wher as before he was an euil trée and bare euill frute P. It cannot bée otherwise M. I thinke then it is the cause why Sainct Paule speaking of the true Christian faith doth call it the liuing and working saith thorough charitie and why Saincte Iames saith that the faith that is withoute works is dead P. There is no doubte of it Of the accomplishing of the lavve in Iesus Christ and of the difference that is betvvene the iustification and sanctification of a Christian man. M. SEing then that man is so refourmed by the meane of faythe thou wilte then saye that he is otherwise disposed to obey the lawe of God than he was before whē he was yet in his owne naturall P. It is easie to vnderstande by that which we haue already said M. May we then in no wise obey the lawe of god excepte that we be first regenerate by his spirite and refourmed to his Image P. No in déede M. If we cā in no sorte obey we are then farre off from yelding perfecte obedience to the whole lawe P. It is true M. What is the cause thereof P. It is for that that our regeneration and reformation is neuer fully perfecte in vs so long as we are wrapped in this corruptable flesh in this worlde M. What other remedy is there then P. It is to haue recourse to the iustification which we haue alredy obteyned thorough the faith in Iesus Christe by the
if it be a worke whereby thy neyghboure receyueth any comforte or helpe in hys person it is then so muche the more profitable Wherefore albeit that the worke be not such as God requireth yet forsomuch as it serueth somewhat to the glory of God and to the edification of our neyboure God is so good that he will not suffer it to be vnrecompenced T. What recompence will he then giue him D. That whiche the worker requireth he desireth glory among men and his particular cōmoditie which things he doth often times receiue for his hire which extend no further than his life for he hathe no further regard at all T. By this accoumpte then thou wouldest conclude that it were better yet that a man should assist the worde of god and his Church and also the poore and that he should do such like works although that his harte were not throughly such as it ought to be rather thā to do nothing at all or to the contrary so that he do it not in any wise to the intente to dishonor God and of a determinate purpose or else rather to hurte his neyghbor than to profite him D. It is true for we haue in the holy Scriptures many examples whiche declare that God hath often times in this worlde done greate good to many that haue not had suche hartes as they ought to haue had bycause that their workes did serue somewhat to his glory and to the reléefe of his people In vvhat sorte the harte of man maye fulfill the lavve of God or no and may be condemned or absolued by the same vvithout the vvorks which god requireth of him in the same T. SEing that the worke which séemeth to be good cannot please God but so farre foorth as the hart from whence they do procéede doth please him and that the harte doth make the worke to be accepted or refused at his hande I do firste aske thée if GOD can contente him selfe without the worke with the harte alone The other is if the worke which of him selfe is euill may please him or else may be suffered by him when he that doth it doth it not for any euill purpose but doth it of force against his harte or else bicause he thinketh it not to be euill The thirde to know in déede if GOD do condemne the wicked thoughte although it be not put in execution and whether it doe as muche displease him as if the effect were ioyned with it D. As touching the firste it is sure that if God haue the harte of man he hath the whole therefore it cannot be but that the harte doth offer and presente vnto him the worke that he requireth of hym wherefore the worke may not be separated from the harte no more than the frute from the trée for euē so as the good trée neuer fayleth to bring foorthe hys frute in his due time and season so doth the good harte at all times and in all seasons that GOD requireth it if he do it not the cause is for that hée wanteth meane to do it and also power or else that he hath not a will to do it if he haue a will and haue no power and meanes to do it that wyll béeing good God dothe accepte and estéemeth it as well as if the facte were done The lyke dothe hée also if the wyll be wicked albeit that it haue not the power to put his wicked thought in execution Wherfore the wicked worke doth not only displease God but also the wicked will and affection in sorte that if it do procéede so farre that it is not long of hir that she doth not execute hir euill purpose and that there is nothing doth hinder it but want of power there is no doubte but that God accompteth the wickednesse done For that cause our Lord Iesus Christ and Sainte Iohn following his doctrine doth compare to a murtherer him that hateth hys brother and estéemeth him an adulterer that behouldeth an other mans wife coueting hir We must vnderstand the like of all other vices according to the interpretation that oure Lorde Iesus Christe himselfe and after him his Apostles gaue vs of the lawe of God but if the hart had the meane the power to do that whiche was commaunded him to do and hathe not only lefte it vndone but hath also not employed him selfe by al meanes possible to vse those occasions wherby he mought do them it is a certaine testimonie and an assured signe that it is not good and that there is no good will in it for if it were good that the will were such as it ought to be it should not be more desirous of any thing than to yeld vnto God that obedience honoure and seruice which is due vnto him and that he requireth of hym wherefore God cannot be pleased wyth such an hart for it is fayned and vntrue Hovve that men do glory in vayne of their good harte and of their faithe if their vvorkes beare not vvitnesse of it and for vvhat cause the iudgement shal be giuen by God according to theyr vvorks and vvhy the Prophets do so ernestly require them exhorting the people of God to repentaunce T. WE do then in vayne glory of the hart if the worke beare not good witnesse of the same D. Yea as well as of the faithe Wherefore we may well here saye with Saincte Iames shewe me thy harte and thy faith by thy workes for as the faith that is without works is not a true faith but onely a vayne and fayned faith and dead and a false shewe of faith hauing nothing of true faith sauing only the name without the effect no more doth the harte liue to God nor is dedicated vnto him that doth not declare himselfe by good works For the fire how litle soeuer it be cannot be without light without heate and at the least without some litle smoke for this cause in the manner of Gods iudgement which is set foorth to vs by our Lord Iesus Christ there is in manner no mention made but onely of works by the which euery man is iudged forsomuch as they shall beare witnesse of the harte and faith of euery man Likewise when the Prophets exhorte men to true repentaunce they doe euer prayse works and namely suche as do concerne our neyghboure forsomuche as hipocrisie may least be therein cloked and that mā doth declare by that whiche he doth concerning the commaundements of the second table and toward his neyghboure what harte he beareth toward God and in what reuerence he hath the commandements of the first table for it is an easie matter for a man to boast himselfe to haue a sound and perfecte harte towarde God and to make a shew by the obseruation of the outward ceremonies but whē he must in déede lay hande to the worke which is to say to the true charitie which is the ende and fulfilling of the lawe and to the workes
same neyther thou nor thy sonne nor thy daughter neyther thy manseruant nor thy woman seruant nor thy cattell nor the straunger that is within thy gates for in sixe dayes the Eternall made the heauen and the earth and the sea and all the things that are in them and he rested the seuenth day And therfore the Eternall blessed the daye of rest and sanctified it The second Table Honour thy father and thy mother to the ende that thy dayes may be prolonged vpon the earth the which the Eternal thy God giueth thée The sixth Thou shalte not kill The seuenth Thou shalte not committe whooredome The eyght Thou shalte not steale The nynth Thou shalt not beare false witnesse agaynst thy neyghbour The tenth Thou shalt not couet thy neyghbours house nor his wyfe neyther his manseruant nor his woman seruaunt nor hys oxe ne yet his asse neyther any thyng that is his Behold these ar the very words which Moyses receyued of the Lorde ingraued in two Tables of stone in the fulfilling wherof he doth not regarde the outward worke onely but chiefly the affection of the heart according to the whiche he iudgeth of the works be they good or euill Of the Summarie that Iesus Christe hathe made of the law of god Chap. 25. ANd bicause that God hath bréefly cōprehended in the firste Table of the law those things whiche he requireth of men towardes his owne person and in the seconde that which he requireth also of them towardes their neighboures for his sake our Lord Iesus hath made an other Summarie yet more bréefe in the whiche he comprehendeth in two points all that whiche is conteyned in these two tables in manner folowing being taken out of the bookes of Moyses Hearken O Israell The Eternal thy God is one God only Thou shalte loue the Eternall thy God with all thy heart with all thy soule and with al thy vnderstanding and mynde It is the firste and greate commaundement And the second is like to the same Thou shalt loue thy neyghbour as thy self Of these two commaundementes depende all the lawe and the Prophetes And all that whiche you woulde that men shoulde doe to you the lyke do you to them Of the true fulfilling of the lawe of god Chap. 27. BVt euen as no man can serue God a ryght according to his will excepte he be well instructed first in his lawe and in his worde euen so it is not sufficiente to haue bene well instructed if it be not put in vse And therefore the knowledge of the same serueth but to greater condemnation if there be nothing else And bycause that man of his nature is so corrupted thorowe synne that not onely he can not of himselfe accomplishe perfectly any one of the commaundements of God but on the contrary can doe nothing else but continually resist his holy will Therfore he hath néede of Iesus Chryst chiefly for two causes The fyrste to satisfye for man in that wherein he is not able to the ende that Iesus Chryst thorowe his obedience mought recompence the fault that is in man thoroughe his rebellion The seconde is to the ende that manne béeing Iustifyed thorough Faythe in Iesus Chryste as is alreadye sayde and so foorthewyth regenerated by hys Spirite and refourmed to the very image of GOD moughte bee the better disposed to obey his holie will to dedicate and consecrate hymselfe wholly to his seruice Of good works which are the frutes of true fayth Chap. 28. IT is then easy to iudge by these things if they be well vnderstode that so much is wanting that the faith in Iesus Christ and the iustification that men obtayne by the same without their workes doe abolishe good workes and the affection of the true and faithfull to the same that there is nothyng that dothe more establyshe and confirme them and that dothe more enflame men to do them For as the soule can not be without life nor the fire without heate and light nor the good trée without bringing forth good frute euen so faith can not be a true faithe if she be not a lyuing faith and she can not be liuing but is dead if she be without good works whiche are the true frutes and the true signes of faith But to the end that none may be deceyued in the matter of good woorkes he must vnderstande that God dothe not estéeme nor doth allowe for suche any other than those whiche are commaunded by him in his worde Of the principall pointes conteined in the holie Scriptures whiche doe summarily comprehend all that which is required in the true seruice of god Chapter 29. THen if we shall speake of the true seruice of God we may reduce into foure pointes all that whiche he requireth in the same according to the declaratiō whiche he hath made in his holy Scriptures The firste is that man put all his whole truste in him alone awayting for all his saluation of him alone thorowe Iesus Christe The seconde that he call vppon him in all his necessities for all things as well corporall as spirituall according to the rule which he himself gaue vnto him The third is that he render graces thanks to him for al the benefites that he hath receiued that he doth daily receue of him The fourth that he yelde himselfe obedient vnto him in all thyngs that he shall commaunde him as well in respect of his owne person as in respect of his neighbor Of the true seruice of God whiche is spirituall Chap. 30. ANd for so muche as it concerneth the substance of the true seruice of God séeing that he is a spirite he requireth also to be serued and honored in spirite and veritie and not in visible things such as are material and corruptible as are images alters temples pilgrimages and other suche lyke superstitions and idolatries inuēted by man For if his good pleasure were that the auncient ceremonies of the lawe should be abolished in the cōming of Iesus Christ of whom they were figures to bring men to this true spirituall seruice it is easy thē to iudge how he mought endure that men shuld forge new ceremonies thorow great presumption according to their owne fantasie to serue hym after their pleasure and not after his Of the ministerie of the Gospell and of the principall partes of the same and of the true vse of the sacraments Chapter 31. FOr that cause he hath ordeyned the ministerie of the Gospell in hys Churche to teache all men according to that doctrine thoroughe the preachyng of the same Wherevnto hée hath adoyned his holye Sacramentes for many causes The fyrste is that they shoulde be vnto vs for greater confirmation of the doctrine of the whiche they are as the seales and in lyke sorte of the sayth which procéedeth of the same The seconde cause is to the ende that they may serue vs for aduertisementes to bring vs to acknowledge the benefites the whyche we haue
works of men shall be weyed and measured Hovv that the lavv of god is transgressed not only in doing that vvhich is forbidden by it but also in leuing that vndone vvhiche is therin commaunded and hovv that those good vvorks which vve do are not able to satisfie for them vvhich vve ought to do and do not ne yet for those vvhich vve do against the vvill of God. T. THen doth it follow that whosoeuer shall do that whiche shall be forbidden of God or shall leaue vndone that which he doth commaund him the same deserueth condemnation On the other side he that shall absteyne frō that which he hath forbidden and shall do that which he hath cōmanded the same shall receiue the prayse and commendation of a good faithfull seruaunt D. These two pointes that thou touchest are right well worthy to be noted For there be some that thinke that they haue sufficiently fulfilled the lawe of God if that they haue refrayned frō those things which are therein forbidden yea and if it haue bin don but only in outward apparance withoute laying of handes with a prompte courage to those thinges whiche are commaunded them On the other side there be others whiche think that they may the more lawfully dispense with thēselues to do many things that be forbiddē in the law whē they haue don some litle porcion of those whiche are commaunded and thinke these to be a recōpēce for the others But we must nedes walke in all other manner of simplicitie before god must put in vse that which Iesus christ hath said it behoueth to do this and not to leaue the other vndone for here it ought to haue better place than in any where else It behoueth to do that whiche is commaunded and to refrayne from that which is forbidden For he that commaundeth and he that forbiddeth is alway one Lord who will not suffer hys maiestie to be more dishonored of the one parte than of the other Therefore when thou dost some part of that which is commaunded thée thinke not by that litle wel doing whiche thou hast done on the one side to haue recompenced the greate euill whiche thou hast committed on the other side For if thou haue don any thing wel thou hast done thy dutie and hast done nothing else yea and that which more is thou hast not done all that howe mayest thou thē recompence the euill which thou hast committed in doing that which was forbiddē thée by this litle good which thou hast done when that same it selfe is not sufficient to satisfie for the faultes whiche thou haste committed in the leauing of that vndone which thou oughtest to haue done T. I do know that very well Hovv that it is not sufficient to do outvvardly the vvorks vvhich God commaundeth if that they be not done to the intent and to the very same purpose for the vvhich God doth commaund them hovv greatly hypocrisie displeaseth God. D. ON the other parte when thou doest the worke which god commandeth thou must take good héede to what ende thou doest it and with what minde For if thou do it more for thine own glory and profite for thine owne behoofe than thou doest for the honoure of God and for the loue thou bearest to him or to thy neyghboure for his sake thou makest of a good worke an euill worke and doest greatly offend him thorough thy hypocrisie abusing his name making a maske of his lawe to serue thée and thy wicked affections And therefore such a worke is no more a worke of the spirite of God for so muche as it is not done in truth but in lies For al hypocrisie is lyes for somuch as it is nothing else but falshod fayning and dissimulation whiche hath an other shewe outwardly than the troth of the thing hath inwardly Now al lyes procéed from the deuill The worke then which is done in lyes is of the deuill and not of god Wherefore it cannot muche better please God than doth the troth which the deuill speaketh to couer his lies with and to transfigure himselfe into an Angell of light and that all the works do that euer he doth howe faire a shewe so euer they haue although God do make them serue to his glory For his intente is alwayes wicked forsomuch as he neuer doth thing but for himselfe and hath regard neyther to the honour of God nor to the profite of any creature wherfore he is neuer more perilous than when he hath the greatest shew of well doing for then it is that hée doth most dishonor god and doth greatest hurt to men bycause he is more couered and disguised more harde to be knowne and to be taken vpō the sudden wherfore those whiche call this deuill that is so disguised a white deuill are not voyd of reason Therefore the false Prophets are neuer more dangerous than whē they haue the greatest shewe of holynesse do most counterfaite the true seruauntes of God the like is of al hypocrites The good work whiche he semeth to doe is often tymes worse than thogh it were set forth plainly suche as it is It is the very cause why Christe did condemne the almes prayers and fastings of the Scribes and Pharisies and all their other works forsomuch as they did them only to be séene of men VVhat good or hurte the vvorke doth that is outvvardly done not vvith a good hart vvhat it may bring to the vvorker of the same also to others and vvhether it be better that it be done or vndone T. IF the matter be such that the worke it selfe which God commaundeth cānot please him if it do not procéede from such a harte as he requireth but doth rather displease him it followeth then that if a man haue not such an harte he dothe not onely léese his time in doing of suche a worke but he doth also purchace to himselfe a more greater iudgemente D. There are also two pointes to be considered in this matter if that the man that doth this worke doth it thoroughly of a very malice and to suche ende as the Deuil doth his to witte to dishonor God and to deceiue mē and to hurte his neyghbor it were much better that he did nothing at all for his worke can do but hurte and more to himselfe than to any other if hée do it not in déede for so euil a purpose but onely to haue some worldlye honoure or profite the worke is then yet somewhat more profitable in sundry sortes as well to himselfe as to others according to the circumstaunces of the same than if it had not bin done at all or else if he had done those works whiche God hath forbidden For first of al those that sée such a worke are edified in somuch as they sée it to bée good of his owne nature and doe thinke that it procéedeth from such an harte as it sheweth for outwardly on the other side
Chryste thorough faythe after that GOD by the same hathe iustified vs by his holye Spirite in Iesus Chryste oure Lorde he dothe also sanctifye vs communicating vnto vs his gyftes and Graces whyche are the frutes of Faythe to the ende that we shoulde bée dedicated and consecrated vnto hym all the dayes of our lyfe to serue and honour hym as hys childrē regenerate by his holy spirite into a newe life Ma. Thou doest reporte faith to iustification and charitie to the worke of sanctification whiche are both works of the holy Ghost P. Thou maiest vnderstand it by the discourse whiche we haue already made of iustification and sanctification In vvhat sorte charitie is necessary to saluation M. CHaritie is not then necessarie to saluation nor other like vertues but faith only P. It is necessary there vnto and not necessary M. I do not well vnderstand this speache for it is contrary in it selfe P. I say that faith is necessary therevnto as cause of saluation withoute the whiche we cannot obtayne it for the causes which I haue alredy declared For somuch as it is the instrument the whiche the holy Ghoste giueth vs wherewith to receiue him when he is offered vnto vs by Iesus Christ and the meane whereby he doth communicate him to vs in hym and by him But charitie is not there ioyned as a cause of saluation without the which we cannot be partakers of it but as a thing ioyned vnto it the whiche followeth faith in suche sorte whiche is the true cause of saluation as I haue already sayde that she cannot be separate no more than the heate from the lighte or the mouing or féeling from the life and from the soule But yet notwithstandyng we haue not saluation thereby no more than brightnesse by the heate the whiche we haue of the lighte or else life by the motion and féeling M. Charitie then and good workes may not be taken for causes by the which or by whose meane we obtaine saluation but onely so farre as they cannot be separated frō true faith by the which we ar made partakers of it P. It is euen so M. Thou hast here opened vnto me one point that was very harde to vnderstande the whiche séemeth to me very well worthy to be diligently noted For there bée fewe whiche do well vnderstande it Peter If all men did well vnderstande it there woulde be no more differente betwene the Christians touching iustification and touching faith and workes and grace and merites and the causes of oure saluation for that whiche we haue sayde of charitie is also vnderstoode of all the other vertues and workes of the regenerate man as I haue alredy sayde whiche are the frutes the which Saincte Paule doth call the frutes of the spirite and the which he doth oppone to the frutes of the flesh Of the regeneration of a Christian man. M. SEing that thou arte lighted vppon the pointe of regeneration me thinketh that it should be also comprehended among those giftes of the holy Ghost the which thou sayest do belong but to the elect of God and be so necessarie to saluation that none may attayne vnto it without them P. It must be so vnderstoode for it is of the chiefe of them and in very déede it is the principall pointe whiche maketh vs to vnderstande the cause why we do cal worke of viuification and sanctification that thirde worke of God whereby we say that God hathe declared himselfe vnto men Ma. Expounde the same to me somewhat more plainely P. Thys worde of regeneration as thou mayest well vnderstande emporteth as muche as a man moughte saye newe birth as if after that we are once borne we are borne yet agayne Mathevve I sée well that the worde of regeneration importeth euen so Peter And therefore it importeth foorthwith a reformation of the man whiche is a rising agayne from the deade whiche is wroughte in the Spirite as the last resurrection shall be wroughte in the fleshe Mathevve What meanest thou by that resurrection of the Spirite Peter Séeing that thorough sinne man is deade of spirituall death whiche bringeth afterwarde death of the body he is as it were risen from that deathe when by Iesus Christe he is in suche sorte delyuered from sinne that he is by the vertue of hys holye Spirite made as it were a manne thoroughly newe or as a manne who hauinge béene deade shoulde haue recouered hys lyfe and shoulde bée raysed agayne Mathevve Thou puttest then so great difference betwene the man whiche abideth still in his firste nature corrupted through sinne and hée which is deliuered from the same corruption and is quickened and regenerated by the holy Ghoste as thou puttest betwene a dead and a liuing man. P. There is no difference but in asmuch as the spirituall death is much more worthy to be called death than is the corporall death and that the estate of the man dead thorough sinne is much more perillous and daungerous than is the estate of the man which is dead but bodily Of the life of the regenerate man. M. Séeing that man is as it were risen from death and borne a new when he is regenerate by the holy Ghost it followeth then necessarily that he do other works after that he is regenerate than he did before his regeneration P. Thou mayest wel vnderstand that if there be so greate differēce betwene the mā regenerate the not regenerate as is betweene a dead and a liuing man it must also necessarily come to passe that there bee as great difference betwene the workes of the one and the other M. I do euen so vnderstand it P. And therfore Iesus Chryst hath sayd that what is borne of fleshe is fleshe and what is borne of the spirite is spirit For euen as a dead bodie can bring forth but infection and corruption euen so on the contrary a liuing body doth the works of lyfe bicause of the liuing soule that he hath more than hath the dead bodie M. It foloweth then that the faith wherby man is viuified and regenerate is vnto him as the soule which bringeth to him spiritual life and that the vnfaithful and not regenerate man is as a body without a soule P. S. Paule following the prophet Abacuk giueth thée playnly to vnderstand that it is so by that whiche he sayth The iust man shall liue of his faith Wherefore if the iust man do liue of his faith it followeth then that Faith is to his soule to giue it spirituall lyfe that whiche the naturall soule is to the bodie to giue it corporall lyfe Mathevv There are then two things to be considered in the regenerate spiritual man to wit Faith which is in him as the soule whiche giueth him spiritual lyfe euen as the soule naturall which giueth corporall lyfe to the body then the workes of the spirite are ioyned to it which are the works of faith which is the spiritual soule euen as the works of life
whiche we do also obtaine dayly remission of all our sinnes For albeit that our sanctification be not yet thoroughly perfecte yet notwithstanding that same letteth not but that our iustification is alredy perfecte M. Doest thou meane that our iustification doth supplie that which wanteth of our sanctification P. I can not tel whether thou takest my wordes as though I meant that we might satisfie towards God in parte by our good works the which we impute to satisfactiō and that Iesus Christ shuld satisfy only for the rest for vs by the same that may be on his side being alowed vnto vs by the iustificatiō For if thou didst so vnderstand it thou shuldest greatly deceiue thy selfe M. Wherein P. Chiefly in two points M. Shew me the first P. It is in that thou shouldest spoile God at the least of a great parte of the honor which is due vnto him for the saluation which we haue of him by Iesus Chryste and the other parte we shall attribute to man. M. In what sorte P. In that that by this meane he should be our sauioure but for the one halfe and wée for the other M. Which is the other point P. It is that thou shouldest presente to God a satisfaction ouermuche imperfecte M. I confesse if I should present vnto him but my works but when I shal present vnto him my works for satisfaction and thē the satisfaction whiche Christ hath made for me with them What imperfection then may more remaine P. If the satisfaction of Iesus Christ be sufficiente thou néedest to present none other to God if it be not sufficiente thou canst not satisfie that whiche maye there wante by any thing that thou canst do M. Why not P. Bycause that God can allowe nothing for satisfaction which is not pure sounde and perfecte as he is Of the distinction that ought to be had betvvene the cause of our saluation and the testimonie of the same M. EXpounde vnto me somewhat more plainly thy meaning in this P. I will say vnto thée for the firste that we must put difference in this matter betwene the cause of our saluation and the testimonie of the same and then afterwarde betwene the sanctification by Iesus Christe whiche is imputed to vs and that whiche is ioyned to our person M. What thinkest thou to be the cause of our saluation P. Iesus Christ dwelling in vs by faith M. What meanest thou by the testimonie that we haue of the same P. The sanctification whereof we nowe speake M. Howe doest thou vnderstande that it is the testimonie of our saluation and of the cause of the same and not the cause it selfe P. For bycause it testifieth that Iesus Christ dwelleth in vs as the effecte testifieth of his cause M. What followeth thereof P. That the cause is there seing that we sée the effects to wit Iesus Christ with all his gifts graces Of the difference that must be put betvvene the sanctification by Christ vvhich is atributed vnto vs and that vvhich is ioyned to our person as a qualitie sticking to the same M. ANd what inconueniente were it to holde our sanctification for the cause of our saluation P. For the better vnderstāding of al this matter it is méete that I expound vnto thée yet the differēce betwene the sanctificatiō of Iesus Christ which is allowed vs whereof I haue euē now spoken and that which is ioyned to our proper perso and then the frutes of the same M. What difference dost thou put therein P. I do call sanctification properly that whiche we consider in the very person of Iesus Chryste the which sanctification is not properlye ours as a qualitie cōiuncte to our person but only by imputation M. What meanest thou by that imputation P. That it is allowed vnto vs as his iustice is attributed and allowed vnto vs by the iustificatiō which we obteyne in him by faith Mat. Is that the cause why Sainct Paule saith that God hath made Iesus Chryste vnto vs wisdome iustice sanctification and redemption P. There is no doubte of it but it must be considered that beside this kinde of sanctification that is so imputed and allowed vnto vs there is yet an other that is ioyned to our very person not only by imputation but as a qualitie sticking in vs whiche procéedeth from that first kind of sanctificatiō wherof we haue euen now spoken M. What vertue hath euery of them in vs P. The firste doth fully sanctifie vs before God bycause it is full and perfecte M. The other is it not of the same nature and force P. No. For it sanctifieth vs but in parte M. For what cause P. Bycause that it is but begonne in vs and not perfecte wherefore it cannot fully sanctifie vs excepte it be full and perfecte M. And when shall it be so P. When our regeneration and reformation to the Image of God shall be M. It shall not then bée in this mortall life P. It is true but it shal be in the life to come in the whiche our life whiche is now hiddē in Iesus Christ shal be shewed and what we be shall appeare when we shall be made like to the glorious body of Iesus Christ Of the cause of the difference that is in these tvvo kindes of sanctification M. WHat is the very cause of this difference that thou puttest betwene these two kindes of sanctification P. I call the first perfecte For that that it is the very sanctification not only of the whiche Iesus Christe is sanctified in hys flesh and humane nature but also by reason whereof he is called the holy one of holy ones For so muche as by the communication of the same he doth sanctifie all his elected to make them holy and without blame before God who hathe chosen them therevnto M. If it be the same sanctification wherewith Iesus Christ is sanctified and doth sanctifie others it is very certaine that it cannot be but perfecte P. If it be perfecte in him it is also perfecte in vs in so much as dwelling in vs by faith we haue him with all the holynesse that he bringeth with hym the which we euer drawe out of him as of his true fountaine the which we haue is our selues whē we haue Iesus christ M. If we haue in Iesus Christe the fountaine of all holynesse whereby we are continually and perpetually sanctified What other imperfecte sanctification may then be in vs P. That which we cōsider in our owne proper fleshe and nature regenerate and renewed by the spirite of God which is as it were watered with the streames of that fountaine of all sanctification to make vs bring foorth the frutes of true sanctification and holynesse in the stead of the frutes of sinne which it brought foorth in time before as the earth whiche being cursed and barren is afterwarde made fertile and beareth better frutes by the blessing of God. Of
the cause of the imperfection that is in the sanctification ioyned to our person and of the vvorks vvhich proceede therof M. THou wilte then saye that this seconde kinde of sanctification is not only adherente to the person of Iesus Christe and that it is not only ours by imputation as is the firste but that it is also adherente to our flesh and nature as a new qualitie which Iesus Christ hath put into vs by his holy spirite whiche maketh our flesh holy in it selfe to do afterwardes holy workes P. It is euen so M. Thou wilte then say also that the holy works whiche men do being so sanctified be the frutes of the same sanctification P. It is euen so but bycause there remayneth continually muche of oure naturall corruption in our fleshe whylest we are in thys worlde there can procéede from vs no worke so hollye but that it is founde very foule and farre off from that perfect holynesse whiche God requireth of vs in all our works M. What wilte thou conclude by that P. That our workes be so farre off from worthynesse to be presented for satisfaction and to obteine saluation by thē be they neuer so holy that if he shoulde iudge of them according to the rigoure of his iudgemente he shoulde fynde nothing therein but matter of condemnation M. Thou maist not denie for all that but the good holy works are very agréeable vnto him P. If it were otherwise they ought not to be done but thou must note herein that they be not acceptable vnto him as cause of our saluation but as testimonie of the same M. Howe vnderstandest thou that they be testimonies of our saluation P. In that that they testifie that Iesus Christe is in vs and that he there worketh by his holy spirite Wherefore it foloweth that we be iustified and sanctified by the iustice and sanctification of Iesus Christ the which God beholdeth and for the regarde thereof he doth beare with the imperfection that yet remayneth in vs and doth pardon vs that wherin we do yet dayly offend him Of the meanes that vve haue tovvard God in recompence of the imperfections vvhich alwayes dvvell in vs. M. IT séemeth vnto me that thou wilte saye in effecte by all this discourse which thou hast made that what regeneration and sanctification soeuer there be in our fleshe and nature we are not yet for all that so pure nor so perfecte but that we must haue continuall recourse to the iustice and sanctification of Iesus Christ which is ours not as a qualitie of iustice and sanctitie sticking and ioined to our person but only for that that it is allowed and attributed vnto vs as though it were our owne proper P. So it is and therefore Iesus Chryste hath saide to the same effecte that he that was alredy washed had yet néede to wash his feete M. What meaneth he by that manner of speach P. That albeit that we be iustified alredy sanctified and purified of our sins by the faith that we haue in him thorough his worde yet for all that for so muche as there resteth in vs alwayes certaine filthynesse and corruption whyche proceedeth of oure corrupted nature whiche is not yet thoroughlye well renued and refourmed to the image of GOD we haue alwayes néede to goe to washe and clense vs of oure filthynesse in the true fountayne of all puritie iustice and sanctification whiche is opened to vs in Iesus Chryst for wée haue no remission of anye one sinne of ours but onely in him by the meanes of the iustification that we haue by Faithe in him THE FIFTHE dialogue is of the faith in God. Of the true foundation of Faith of the difference that it maketh betweene the Christian religion and all other religions MATHEVV SEing it is so that man receyueth of God all these great goodnesses whereof thou hast made mention by the meane of the onely faithe in Iesus Christe it followeth then according to thy saying that Iesus Christ is the true foūdation of the same P. It is not to be doubted For we cannot lay hold vpon the mercie of God nor be assured that he is become our louing and merciful father but only in Iesus Christ and by Iesus Christe his beloued sonne M. Then if it bée so it followeth that Man hathe no true faythe in GOD but that whereby man dothe imbrace hym in Iesus Christ when he beléeueth in him P. It is very true and therefore that faith is the very point whiche discerneth the christian Religion from all others and the Christians from all other people M. But séeing that the fayth is in the heart wherby man beléeueth to iustification how can it distinguishe the religions P. I do not here speake proprely of the distinction whiche is made by the outwarde confession whiche men make but of that whiche lyeth in the true foundation and in the propre substance of the religion which hath his only foundation in God and in his word albeit that vnder the name of the faith I comprehend also the confession of the same M. Doest thou meane that all other religions which are not grounded vppon the faithe in Iesus Christe are no true religions but false P. If religion maye be religion withoute hauing a God which is honoured therby they may be accompted for religions and not otherwise M. Why sayst thou so P. Forsomuche as there is no true God but only he whiche hath shewed himselfe in Iesus Christ no more can he also be knowen nor honoured as God but in Iesus Christ How that all religion is without God sauing the Christian religion M. IF that be true the Iewes the Turkes and all other men which beleue not in Iesus Chryste nor in the Gospel haue then no God. P. No in déede but only by imagination M. Why sayst thou so P. Forsomuch as God can be none other than he is M. I vnderstand it wel but what wilt thou conclude thereof P. That séeing that God can not be knowne suche as he is but in Iesus Chryste who soeuer doth not acknowledge him in Iesus Chryste knoweth hym not at all Wherfore he forgeth to himself an other God than the true God. M. In what sorte doth he forge him P. In so muche as he maketh and pourtraiteth God not suche an one as he is in déed but such as he hath béen able to imagine hym in his brayne and vnderstandyng M. Thou then callest other gods and strāge gods the imaginations that men do cōceiue of God in their vnderstāding wherby they do imagine and estéeme him other thā he is and did manifest him selfe in his sonne Iesus Chryste and in his woorde Pe. What thinkest thou then that the strange gods are For séeing ther is but one true God only it followeth then very wel that al the others whiche men call gods are not gods at all but onely by the imagination of men