Because we receive this justification, not for any of our works sake, 1but by faith in God his mercy, and through Christ, therefore we teach, and believe with the Apostle, that man is justified by faith only in Christ, not by the Law, or by any works. For Paul sayeth: We think that a man is justified by faith, without the works of the law: And again. Rom. iiij. 2If Abraham were justified by works, he hath wherein to rejoice, but not with God. For what sayeth the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Now ⟨p. 42⟩to him that worketh, the wages is not counted by favour, but by debt, and to him that worketh not, but believeth in him that justifieth, the faith of the ungodly is counted for righteousness: And again. Ephe. ij. by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of your selves, it is the gift of God, and not of works, lest any man should boast himself. Then because faith ketcheth hold fast on Christ, who is our righteousness, and attributeth all things, to the grace 3of God in him, therefore justification is ascribed to faith, chiefly for Christ, and not because it is our work, for it is the gift of God. That we receive Christ by faith, the Lord declareth at large, where he useth this word, 4Eat, for believe, and believe for eat: For as by eating we receive meat, 5so by believing we are made partakers of Christ: Wherefore we divide not the benefit of Justification, attributing 6it partly to the grace of God, or to Christ, and partly to our selves, our love to our works, to our merits: ⟨image 86⟩[…] ⟨p. 42⟩[…] ⟨image 87⟩But we ascribe it wholly to the grace of God in Christ by faith. And which is more, out love and our works cannot please God, if they be done of us that are unjust: Wherefore we must first be made just, before we can love, or do just works: We are made just in deed (as we have declared) by faith in Christ, by the mere grace of God, who doeth not impute our sins, but Christ his righteousness to us, and counteth our faith in Christ, as righteousness. Furthermore the Apostle plainly showeth, that 7love cometh of faith: The end of the Law is Love, issuing out of a pure heart, a good conscience, and an unfeigned faith.
Because wee receiue this iustificacion, not for any of our workes sake, 1but by faithe in God his mercie, and through Christe, therefore we teache, and beleue with the Apostle, that man is iustified by faithe onely in Christe, not by the Lawe, or by any woorkes. For Paule saieth: Wee thinke that a man is iustified by faithe, without the workes of the lawe: And again. Rom. iiij. 2If Abraham were iustified by workes, he hath wherin to reioyce, but not with God. For what saieth the scripture? Abrahā beleued God, and it was cōpted to hym as rightuousnes. Now ⟨p. 42⟩to hym that woorketh, the wages is not compted by fauour, but by debte, and to hym that worketh not, but beleueth in him that iustifieth, the faithe of the vngodly is compted for rightuousnes: And again. Ephe. ij. by grace are ye saued through faithe, and that not of your selues, it is the gifte of God, and not of woorkes, leaste any man should boaste hymself. Then because faithe ketcheth holde faste on Christe, who is our rightuousnes, and attributeth all thynges, to the grace 3of God in hym, therefore iustificacion is ascribed to faithe, chiefly for Christ, and not because it is our woorke, for it is the gifte of God. That wee receiue Christe by faithe, the Lorde declareth at large, wher he vseth this woorde, 4Eate, for beleue, and beleue for eate: For as by eatyng wee receiue meate, 5so by beleuyng wee are made partakers of Christ: Wherefore we deuide not the benefite of Iustificacion, attributyng 6it partely to the grace of God, or to Christe, and partly to our selues, our loue to our woorkes, to our merites: ⟨image 86⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 42⟩〈…〉 ⟨image 87⟩But wee ascribe it wholie to the grace of God in Christe by faithe. And whiche is more, out loue and our workes cannot please God, if thei be doen of vs that are vniuste: Wherefore we muste firste be made iuste, before wee can loue, or doe iuste workes: We are made iuste in deéde (as we haue declared) by faithe in Christe, by the mere grace of God, who dooeth not impute our sinnes, but Christe his rightuousnes to vs, and compteth our faithe in Christe, as rightuousnesse. Furthermore the Apostle plainly sheweth, that
- 1we are justified by faith only.we are iustified by faith only.
- 2Roma. iii.
- 3we receive Christ by faith.we receaue Christe by fayth.
- 4John. vi.Ihon. vi.
- 5Eat used for believe.Eat vsed for beleue.
- 6Justification is not to be attributed partly to us. and partly to Christ.Iustification is not to be attributed partly to vs. and partly to Christ.
- 7i. Timo. i.
