Even so no good work availeth to righteousness and salvation to the unbelieving person. On the other side,1 no evil work maketh him evil or damnable, but his own unbelief, which both maketh the tree evil, and withal, maketh the works evil and damnable, whereupon in this, that any person is made good or bad, he doth not receive this being good or bad by works, but this his good or evil taketh beginning from the root of faith or unbelief, as the wise man recordeth, The beginning of sin is to fall from God, which is in effect, to be unbelieving.2 And Paul in the 11 to the Hebrews, It behooveth him that cometh to God, to believe. The same also speaketh Christ, Either make the tree good, and the fruit thereof good, or make the tree evil, and ⟨p. 50⟩the fruit thereof evil, as if he might say, who so will make good fruits, must begin at the tree first, & plant upon a good stock, so who so will make good works, must begin, not at the working, but at the believing, which belief doth make the person good, for nothing maketh the person good, but faith, nor any thing maketh him evil, but unbelief.3 Indeed this is true, that by works man is made good or evil in the judgement of men, but this is as much in effect, as to do it to understand, and let it be known who be good, or who be evil, whereof Christ speaketh in the seventh of Matthew, You shall know them by their fruits. But this knowledge consisteth only in show, and outward appearance, & semblance, wherein many are deceived that presume to teach and prescribe, whereby men may be justified in the mean time, making not once so much mention of Faith at all, masking still in their own mismaze,4 always deceived, and deceiving others, going forward from worse unto worse, blind guides of the blind, wearying themselves with a multitude of works, & ⟨p. 51⟩yet never attaining to true righteousness, of whom Paul writeth in the 1.5 to Tim. the 3. Chap. Having indeed an utter show of holiness, but denying the power thereof, always learning, but never attaining to the knowledge of the truth. Therefore behooveth him that will not wander out of the way, with these blind guides, to enter into a deeper consideration, than the utter show of works, of laws, & doctrines of works, but must rather with a quite contrary aspect pry into the person, and note diligently the reason, whereby man is justified:
Euen so no good worke auaileth to righteousnesse and saluation to the vnbeléeuing person. On the other side,1 no euill worke maketh him euill or damnable, but his owne vnbeléefe, which both maketh the trée euill, and withall, maketh the workes euill and damnable, whereupon in this, that any person is made good or badde, he doth not receiue this being good or badde by works, but this his good or euill taketh beginning from the roote of faith or vnbeleefe, as the wise man recordeth, The beginning of sin is to fall from God, which is in effect, to be vnbeléeuing.2 And Paul in the 11 to the Hebrewes, It behooueth him that commeth to God, to beleeue. The same also speaketh Christ, Either make the tree good, and the fruit thereof good, or make the tree euill, and ⟨p. 50⟩the fruit thereof euill, as if he might say, who so will make good fruits, must begin at ye trée first, & plant vpon a good stock, so who so will make good works, must begin, not at the working, but at the beléeuing, which beléefe doth make ye person good, for nothing maketh the person good, but faith, nor any thing maketh him euill, but vnbeléefe.3 Indéed this is true, that by works man is made good or euill in the iudgemēt of men, but this is as much in effect, as to doe it to vnderstand, and let it be knowne who bee good, or who bee euill, whereof Christ speaketh in the seuenth of Matthew, You shall know them by their fruits. But this knowledge consisteth only in shew, and outward appearance, & semblance, wherein many are deceiued that presume to teach and prescribe, wherby men may bee iustified in the meane time, making not once so much mention of Faith at all, masking still in their own mismaze,4 alwayes deceiued, and deceiuing others, going forward from worse vnto worse, blind guides of the blind, wearying themselues with a multitude of works, & ⟨p. 51⟩yet neuer attaining to true righteousnes, of whom Paul writeth in the 1.5 to Tim. the 3. Chap. Hauing indeed an vtter shew of holines, but denying the power thereof, alwayes learning, but neuer attaining to the knowledge of the truth. Therefore behooueth him yt will not wāder out of the way, with these blind guides, to enter into a déeper cōsideratiō, thā the vtter shew of workes, of lawes, & doctrines of workes, but must rather with a quite contrary aspect pry into the person, and note diligently the reason, whereby man is iustified:
- 1The unbelieving person is not made evil by works.The vnbeleeuing person is not made euill by works.
- 2Heb. 11.
- 3Works do make a man good, but that is in the sight of men. Matth 7.
- 4The original of some mens error.The originall of some mens errour.
- 51 Tim. 3.
