A declaration of Christ and of his office compiledA declaration of Christe and of his offyce compylyd

Paul saith we or justified by faith, and not by works: to be justified ⟨image 42⟩by faith i Christ is as much to say as we obtain remission of sin and are accepted into the favour of god by the merits of Christ. to be justified by works is as much to say, as to deserve remission of sine by works. Paul declareth that for the death and merits of Christ we be saved, and not by our own virtues so that faith doth not only show us Christ that died and now sitteth at the right hand of God, but also applieth the merits of this death unto us and maketh Christ ours, faith laying nothing to gage unto the justice of God but the death of Christ and there upon claimeth mercy and God's promise the remission of sin. and desireth God to justify, and deliver the soul from the accusation of the law and right of the devil. which he is bound to do for his promise sake. Ezech. 33. Matth. 17. and although with this remission of sin ⟨image 43⟩he giveth like wise. the holy ghost to work the will of God, to love both God and his neighbour not withstō ding, the conscience burdened and charged with sin: first seeketh remission thereof. For this thing the conscience laboureth, and contendeth in all fears and terrors of sorrow and contrition it disputeth not what virtues it bringeth wretched soul to acclaim this promise of mercy but for sakyng here own justice offereth Christ, dead upon the cross and sitting at God's right hand, Nothing maketh it the cause wherefore this mercy should be given saving only the death of Christ which is ton litron the only sufficient price and gage for sin. And although it be necessary and requisite that in the justification of â sinner contrition to be present and that necessarily charity and virtues lief most follow, yet doth the scripture ⟨image 43⟩attribute the only remission of sin unto the mercy of god which is yeuyne only for the merits of Christ and received solely by faith, Paul doth not Exclude, those virtues to be present, but he excludeth the merits of these virtues and derive the cause of our acceptation in to the grace of god only for Christ. And Mark this manner of speache, fide justificamur. Hoc est fiducia misericordie sumus justi. This word faith, doth comprehend as well à persuasion and confidence, that the promise of god appertaineth unto him for Christs sake as the knowledge of god.