A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

Secondly, whereas every man must be judged, that is, saved or condemned according to his works; hence we may gather, that good works are necessary to salvation, yet not as causes thereof, either efficient, or helping any way, but only as a way or means to come unto salvation: For faith is necessary, and good works are the tokens and fruits of faith, and so are necessary.

Secondly, whereas euery man must bee iudged, that is, saued or condemned according to his workes; hence wee may gather, that good workes are necessarie to saluation, yet not as causes thereof, either efficient, or helping any way, but onely as a way or meanes to come vnto saluation: For faith is necessarie, and good workes are the tokens and fruits of faith, and so are necessarie.

Thirdly, here we must be admonished to be careful to abound in good works; not to win heaven by them, but to get assurance of salvation in our selves. And these good works are the doing of the duties of piety unto God, and of charity unto our brethren, even the duties of the Moral law; or more plainly, the doing of the general duties of a Christian, and the particular duties of a mans calling: for if these be done in obedience to God and to his glory, proceeding from faith and love unto our brethren, though the calling be never so base, they are good works. And on the contrary, this must admonish us to make conscience of every evil way: for sins be the marks of condemnation: and so many wicked works as we commit, so many marks and brands do we set upon our selves of our just and deserved condemnation, unless we repent.

Thirdly, here we must bee admonished to bee carefull to abound in good workes; not to win heauen by them, but to get assurance of saluation in our selues. And these good workes are the doing of the duties of pietie vnto God, and of charitie vnto our brethren, euen the duties of the Morall law; or more plainely, the doing of the generall duties of a Christian, and the particular duties of a mans calling: for if these bee done in obedience to God and to his glory, proceeding from faith and loue vnto our brethren, though the calling bee neuer so base, they are good workes. And on the contrarie, this must admonish vs to make conscience of euery euill way: for sinnes be the markes of condemnation: and so many wicked workes as we commit, so many markes and brands doe wee set vpon our selues of our iust and deserued condemnation, vnlesse wee repent.