The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

But here some will say unto me, If alms giving, and our charitable works towards the poor, be able to wash away since, to reconcile us to God, to deliver us from the peril of damnation, and make us the sons & heirs of Gods kingdom: then is Christs merits defaced, and his blood shed in vain, then are we justified by works, and by our deeds may we merit heaven, then do we in vain believe that Christ dyed for to put away our since, and that ⟨p. 327⟩he rose for our justification, as saint Paul teacheth. But ye shall understand (dearly beloved) that neither those places of scripture before alleged, neither the doctrine of the blessed martyr Cyprian, neither any other godly and learned man, when they in extolling the dignity, profit, fruit, and effect of virtuous and liberal alms, do say that it washeth away since, and bringeth us to the favour of God, do mean that our work and charitable deed, is the original cause of our acception before God, or that for the dignity or worthiness thereof, our sins may be washed away, and we purged & cleansed of all the spots of our iniquity: for that were in deed to deface Christ, and to defraud him of his glory. But they mean this, and this is the understanding of those and such like sayings: That God of his mercy and especial favour towards them whom he hath appointed to everlasting salvation, hath so offered his grace especially, and they have so received it fruitfully, that although by reason of their sinful living outwardly, they seemed before to have ben the children of wrath and perdition, yet now the spirit of God mightily working in them, unto obedience to Gods will and commandments, they declare by their outward deeds and life, in the showing of mercy, and charity (which can not come but of the spirit of God and his especial grace) that they are the undoubted children of God appointed to everlasting life. And so, as by their wickedness and ungodly living, they showed them selves according to the judgement of men, which follow ⟨p. 328⟩the outward appearance, to be reprobates and castaways:

But here some wyll say vnto me, If almes geuyng, and our charitable workes towardes the poore, be able to washe away synnes, to reconcile vs to God, to delyuer vs from the peryll of damnation, and make vs the sonnes & heires of Gods kingdome: then is Christes merites defaced, and his blood shed in vayne, then are we iustified by workes, and by our deedes may we merite heauen, then do we in vayne beleue that Christ dyed for to put away our synnes, and that