But before I lay forth this godly life at large, in this chapter, I will begin with the first point of the first general part of this treatise, that is, that seeing godliness cannot be without justifying faith, but springeth and ariseth from it, as the branch from the tree;1 for so Saint James saith, Show me thy faith by thy works: therefore where no true justifying faith is, there can be no godly life. And so he,2 who is no true believer, cannot have any sparkle of godliness in §Hhim; but is utterly destitute, and void thereof, even altogether ungodly, as the Apostle writeth: We all had our conversation sometime as other disobedient men, in the lusts of our flesh, doing those things which liked us: where we see, that this was the life of all, even the best, to be strangers to the life of godliness, and the children of wrath, before they believed, Ephes. 2.8. But least any through ignorance might say: though we did that which liked the lusts of our hearts, yet we did not only so, nor all that we did, was not such, but some good we did amongst the evil which we committed, (and if it be so, they think that the one may answer for the other:) I further say to them, out of the place to Titus 1.15. Unto the pure, are all things pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving,§I is nothing pure; but even their minds and consciences are defiled: to the Hebrews,3 that without faith, it is impossible to please God, whatsoever things we do, but all is abominable, odious, and vile before him. For as is the fountain, so are the rivers which run from it; and as is the heart, and the cogitations of it, so are the actions which proceed from it: but the cogitations of the heart are always, 4and only evil. So that (to return) in the unbeliever there is no good thing that pleaseth God: his best actions are turned into sin: his prayers, alms, reading, hearing, confessions, thanks-givings, and whatsoever else, they are all abominable in him; and God will never be pleased with his works and services, until the person, namely, even he himself be accepted §Kof him; and that is not till he believe: as it is in the epistle to the Hebrews 10.38. The just shall live by faith, but if any withdraw himself [that is, thorough unbelief] my soul shall have no pleasure in him, saith the Lord.
But before I lay forth this godly life at large, in this chapter, I will begin with the first point of the first generall part of this treatise, that is, that seeing godlines cannot be without iustifying faith, but springeth and ariseth from it, as the branch from the tree;1 for so Saint Iames saith, Shew me thy faith by thy workes: therefore where no true iustifying faith is, there can be no godly life. And so he,2 who is no true beleeuer, cannot haue any sparkle of godlines in §Hhim; but is vtterlie destitute, and voide thereof, euen altogether vngodly, as the Apostle writeth: We all had our conuersation sometime as other disobedient men, in the lustes of our flesh, doing those things which liked vs: where we see, that this was the life of all, euen the best, to be strangers to the life of godlines, and the children of wrath, before they beleeued, Ephes. 2.8. But least any through ignorance might say: though we did that which liked the lusts of our hearts, yet we did not onely so, nor all that we did, was not such, but some good we did amongst the euill which we committed, (and if it be so, they thinke that the one may answere for the other:) I further say to them, out of the place to Titus 1.15. Vnto the pure, are all things pure: but vnto them that are defiled and vnbeleeuing,§I is nothing pure; but euen their minds and consciences are defiled: to the Hebrues,3 that without faith, it is impossible to please God, whatsoeuer things we doe, but all is abhominable, odious, and vile before him. For as is the fountaine, so are the riuers which runne from it; and as is the heart, and the cogitations of it, so are the actions which proceede from it: but the cogitations of the heart are alwaies, 4and onely euill. So that (to returne) in the vnbeleeuer there is no good thing that pleaseth God: his best actions are turned into sinne: his praiers, almes, reading, hearing, confessions, thankes-giuings, and whatsoeuer else, they are all abominable in him; and God will neuer be pleased with his workes and seruices, vntill the person, namely, euen he himselfe be accepted §Kof him; and that is not till he beleeue: as it is in the epistle to the Hebrues 10.38. The iust shall liue by faith, but if any withdraw himselfe [that is, thorough vnbeliefe] my soule shall haue no pleasure in him, saith the Lord.
- 1James 2.18.Iames 2.18.
- 2Where true faith is not, there is no good life. Ephes. 2.3.
- 3Heb. 11.6.
- 4Gen. 6.5. No good thing in the unbeliever that pleaseth God. Gen. 9.6. Prou. 28.9. Psalm. 50.16. Gen. 4.4.Gen. 6.5. No good thing in the vnbeleeuer that pleaseth God. Gen. 9.6. Prou. 28.9. Psalm. 50.16. Gen. 4.4.
