Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

These be the very words of saint Basil. And saint Ambrose, a Latin author, sayeth these words: This is the ordinance of God, that he, which believeth in Christ, should be saved, without works, by faith only, freely receiving remission of his since. Consider diligently these words: without works, by faith only, freely, we receive remission of our since. What can be spoken more plainly, then to say: that freely, without works, by faith only, we obtain remission of our since? These and other like sentences, that we be justified by faith only, freely, and without ⟨image 18⟩works, we do read ofttimes in the most best and ancient writers. As beside Hillary, Basil, & saint Ambrose, before rehearsed: we read the same in Origene, saint Chrysostom, saint Cyprian, saint Augustine, Prosper, Oecomenius, Phocius, Bernardus, Anselm, and many other authors, Greek and Latin. Nevertheless, this sentence: that we be justified by faith only: is not so meant of them, that the said justifying faith is alone in man, without true repentance, hope, charity, dread and fear of God, at any time or season. Nor when they say: that we be justified freely:¹ they mean not, that we should or might afterward be idle, & that nothing should be required on our parts afterward. Neither they mean not so to be justified without our good works, that we should do no good works at all, like as shall be more expressed at large hereafter. But this proposition, that we be justified, by faith only, freely, and without works: is spoken, for to take away clearly all merit of our works, as being insufficient, to deserve our justification at Gods hands, and thereby most plainly to express the weakness of man, and the goodness of God, the great infirmity of our selves, and the might and power of God, the imperfectness of our own works, and the most abundant grace of our saviour Christ. And thereby wholly to ascribe the merit and deserving of our justification, unto Christ only, and his most precious bludshedyng. This faith the holy scripture teacheth: this is the strong rock & foundation of Christian religion: this doctrine all old and ancient authors of Christs church do approve: ⟨image 18⟩this doctrine,² advanceth & setteth forth the true glory of Christ, and suppresseth the vain glory of man: