1But thou wilt say, these men do not so altogether abrogate faith, but that they couple her together with ⟨p. 59⟩works, by a necessary and an inseparable conjunction. I do know indeed that faith is peradventure in some estimation amongst them: yet such an estimation this is, as that they will in no wise yield unto her, her true dignity and due place of estate. For whereas no one thing is resiant in us, nor given unto us miserable wretches from above, that may make us acceptable unto God, may obtain his favour, may cure our diseases, may deliver from the fetters and chains of sin, may turn away wrath and vengeance, may overcome the world, may crush in pieces the horrible tyranny of death and the devil, may stand boldly and unvanquishable in the face •f hell gates, finally which may overspread us poor forlorn captives, drowned in the dung and dirt of the earth, with the gladsome sunshine of heavenly life, and unspeakable glory of immortality besides this only inestimable Jewel, namely faith in Christ, in the which all our hope and riches together with all the promises of God are fast locked up as it were in a certain Ark of covenant: when as also the self same faith, linked and united together with other virtues, doth not only far surmount all those virtues in her singular excellency and power, but also of her own force only and alone satisfy and accomplish all the parts of our redemption, yea and so accomplish the same, as that where she leadeth always whole troops of most excellent virtues with her,2 needeth not nevertheless any their help at all towards the procuring of Gods favour: I beseech you for the love you bear to Christ: what perverse peevishness and I know not whether more malicious or shameless impudency of men is this (I say of the false doctors of Rome) which being addicted to the Romish rags, seem by a certain destiny as it were borne of purpose for the utter overthrow of Christs Church) so to embase this same faith in Christ, even under all other virtues as a very naked, bare & fruitless thing of ⟨image 64⟩it self,3 as that they scarcely can find in their hearts to grant her any commendation in heaven, or any place of acceptance in earth? For what else do these words of theirs import, wherewith they term this faith only, only rashness, yea and no faith at all, but impudency, temerity,4 and arrogance?
1But thou wilt say, these men doe not so altogether abrogate fayth, but that they couple her together with ⟨p. 59⟩works, by a necessarie and an inseparable coniunction. I do know indeede that fayth is peraduenture in some estimation amongst them: yet such an estimation this is, as that they will in no wise yeeld vnto her, her true dignitie and due place of estate. For whereas no one thing is resiant in vs, nor giuē vnto vs miserable wretches f•ō aboue, that may make vs acceptable vnto God, may obteine his fauour, may cure our diseases, may deliuer from the fetters and chaines of sinne, may turne away wrath and vengeance, may ouercome the worlde, may crush in peeces the horrible tyrannie of death and the deuill, may stande boldely and vnuanquishable in the face •f hell gates, finally which may ouerspreade vs poore forlorne ca••iues, drowned in the doung and durt of the earth, with the gladsome sunneshine of heauenly life, and vnspeakeable glorie of immortalitie besides this onely inestimable Iewel, namely fayth in Christ, in the which all our hope and riches togither with all the promises of God are fast locked vp as it were in a certaine Arke of couenant: when as also the selfe same fayth, linked and vnited togither with other vertues, doth not onely farre surmount al those vertues in her singular excellencie and power, but also of her owne force onely and alone satisfie and accomplish all the partes of our redemption, yea and so accomplishe the same, as that where she leadeth alwaies whole troups of most excellent vertues with her,2 needeth not neuerthelesse any their helpe at al towards the procuring of Gods fauour: I beseech you for the loue you beare to Christ: what peruerse peuishn•sse and I know not whether more malicious or shamelesse impudencie of men is this (I say of the false doc•ors of Rome) which being addicted to the Romish ragges, seeme by a certaine destinie as it were borne of purpose for the vtter ouerthrowe of Christes Church) so to embase this same faith in Christ, euen vnder al other vertues as a very naked, bare & fruitlesse thing of ⟨image 64⟩it selfe,3 as that they scarcely can finde in their heartes to graunt her any commendation in heauen, or any place of acceptance in earth? For what else doe these wordes of theirs import, wherewith they tearme this fayth onely, onely rashnesse, yea and no fayth at al, but impudencie, temeritie,
- 1How faith is esteemed with the Papists.How fayth is esteemed with the Papistes.
- 2Only faith with out works •o•h accomplish the whole work of our jus•i•icatio•Only faith with out works •o•h accomplish the whole worke of our ius•i•icatio•
- 3O•or• against Haddon. page 94.O•or• agaynst Haddon. pag• 94.
- 4O•or in his Epistle to the Queen of England. pag. 27. 32.O•or in his Epistle to the Queene of England. pag. 27. 32.
