1WE are the workmanship of God, created in christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them. This is y• saying of S. Paul, which a little before this sentence in his Epistle to the ⟨image 46⟩Ephe, declareth, as I have hitherto taught you, that by nature we are the children of wrath, & are saved only by grace through faith, & that not of our selves, for it is the gift of god, & cometh not of works, because no man should boast him self. And when he hath this done, immediately he exhorteth us to good works, saying that we are the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath prepared ye we should walk in them. Here may ye learn, what is your duty to do unto God again, seeing that he freely through saith hath saved you without any merits, deservings or good deeds on your behalf.2 Your duty is to live well, to practise good works, to exercise all godly acts, to lead a virtuous conversation, and in all your life through the study of innocency to seek the glory of God. Now shall your conversation declare ⟨image 47⟩and show by external works whether your repentance be unfeigned or not, whether your faith & love toward God be sincere, true, & proceeding from a godly heart or not.3 For if your repentance, faith & love be christian & unfeigned, than shall good works ensue & follow agreeable to the same. For faith, sayeth Chrysostom, showeth that, which is true. And out of sincere faith cometh charity, in so much that he, which believeth truly in God, can never be with out it.4 S. Ambrose also saith: faith is the mother & bringer for the both of good will & righteous working. Again he sayeth:5 A new creature hath this property by grace, ye they which are the workmanship of god which are made in Christ by an heavenly nativity, be no more sluggish neither given to live dissolutely,6 but they go forth & profit from virtue to virtue, in walking by the way ⟨image 47⟩of good works. Also in another place he sayeth, God giveth to them whom he chooseth without merits, whereof they may be garnished with merits also.7 And it is not truly said, that the intent and determination of well working is not in the elect. For the gifts of virtues can not be idle. Thus see you that lynysh faith whereby ye are engrafted in Christ, bring the forth good works.
1WE are the workemanshyp of God, created in christ Iesus vnto good workes, whiche God hath prepared that we should walke in them. This is y• say•nge of S. Paule, whiche a lytle before this sentence in his Epistle to ye ⟨image 46⟩Ephe, declareth, as I haue hitherto taughte you, that by nature we are the chyldrē of wrath, & are saued only by grace thorow fayth, & that not of our selues, for it is ye gyfte of god, & commethe not of workes, bycause no man shoulde boste hym selfe. And whan he hath this done, immediately he exorteth vs to good workes, saienge that we are the workemanship of God, created in Christ Iesu vnto good workes, which God hath prepared ye we should walke in them. Here maye ye learne, what is your duety to do vnto God agayn, seing that he frely thorowe sayth hath saued you withoute any merites, deseruynges or good dedes on your behalfe.2 Your duty is to lyue wel, to practyse good workes, to exercyse al godlye actes, to lede a vertuous conuersaciō, and in all your lyfe thorowe the study of innocency to seke the glory of God. Now shall your cōuersacion declare ⟨image 47⟩and shewe by externall workes whether your repentaunce be vnfayned or not, whether your fayth & loue towarde God be syncere, true, & procedyng from a godly herte or not.3 For yf your repentaunce, faith & loue be christian & vnfayned, than shal good workes ensue & followe agreable to the same. For faythe, sayeth Chrisostome, sheweth that, whiche is true. And out of syncer fayth cōmeth charite, in so much that he, whiche beleueth truly in God, cā neuer be with out it.4 S. Ambrose also sayth: fayth is the mother & brynger for the both of good wyll & righteous workyng. Agayne he sayeth:5 A new creature hath this property by grace, ye they which are the workemanshyp of god which are made in Christ by an heauenly natiuite, be no more sluggysh nother gyuē to lyue dissolutely,6 but they go forth & profyte from vertue to vertue, in walkynge by the waye ⟨image 47⟩
- 1Ephe. ii.
- 2What the duty of y• faith •ul•a.What the duty of y• fayth •ul•a.
- 3In. •. •in•. •om. ii.
- 4Be •o•at• Gen. •a. v•. •.ib.i.
- 5Ibidem.
- 6D• vo. •e. cap. vilely. •ib. ii.D• vo. •e. cap. vi•i. •ib. ii.
- 7Mark this well.Marke this well.
