The said Apostle affirmeth, faith 1to be of great efficacy, declaring it self by Love: Faith quieteth the conscience, openeth to us a free entry unto GOD, that we may come to him with boldness, and obtain of him profitable, and necessary things: It keepeth us in doing our duty, that we owe to God, and our neighbour: In adversity, it strengtheneth us with patient, factioneth and formeth in us true confession: and to speak all at a word, saith bringeth forth all kind of good ⟨image 89⟩2fruits, and good works in us. For we teach, that true good works, do spring of a lively faith, by the working of the holy ghost, and are done of the faithful, according to the will or rule of God his word. For Peter the Apostle faith, give all diligence 3thereunto, and join virtue with your faith, and with virtue knowledge, & with knowledge temperance. &c. We said before, that the Law of GOD, which is the will of God, doeth prescribe unto us, a pattern of good works. And the Apostle affirmeth, this is 4the will of God, your sanctification, and that ye should abstain from uncleanness, that no man oppress, or defraud his brother in any matter: For God 5alloweth not those works, those worshippings, which we chose of our own head, which Paul calleth, voluntary religion. Whereof the lord 6also in the gospel saith. They worship me in vain, teaching the doctrine, and precepts of men. We reprove therefore such works, but we highly con mend, and earnestly require those ⟨p. 45⟩works, which be according to the will and commandment of God. 7We must therefore do good deeds, yet not to merit thereby life everlasting (for as the Apostle sayeth. Life everlasting is the gift of God) nor to make our boast or brag thereof, which 8Christ reproveth, nor yet for gain, which also he disalloweth, Math. xxiij. but to the glory of God, to commend our vocation, to show our thankfulness to God, and to profit our neighbour. Again our Lord faith in the Gospel: Let your light so shine before 9men, that they may see your good works, & glorify your father, which is in heaven: And the Apostle Paul, Eyh. iiij. Walk as becometh your vocation: Also Collo. iij. Whatsoever ye shall do, saith he, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to GOD the father, through him. And Phil. ij.
The saied Apostle affirmeth, faithe 1to bee of greate efficacie, declaryng it self by Loue: Faithe quieteth the conscience, openeth to vs a frée entrie vnto GOD, that wee maie come to hym with bolones, and obtain of hym profitable, and necessarie thynges: It kepeth vs in doyng our duetie, that wee owe to God, and our neighboure: In aduersitie, it strengthneth vs with paciēte, facioneth and formeth in vs true confessiō: and to speake all at a worde, saithe bringeth forthe al kinde of good ⟨image 89⟩2fruites, and good woorkes in vs. For we teache, that true good workes, doe spryng of a liuely faithe, by the woorkyng of the holie ghoste, and are doen of the faithfull, accordyng to the wille or rule of God his woorde. For Peter the Apostle faieth, geue all diligence 3thereunto, and ioine vertue with your faithe, and with vertue knowledge, & with knowledge temperaūce. &c. We saied before, that the Lawe of GOD, whiche is the will of God, dooeth prescribe vnto vs, a paterne of good workes. And the Apostle affirmeth, this is 4the will of God, your sanctificaciō, and that ye should abstaine from vnclennes, that no man oppresse, or defraude his brother in any matter: For God 5alloweth not those workes, those worshippynges, whiche wee chose of our owne hedde, whiche Paule calleth, volontarie religiō. Whereof the lorde 6also in the gospell saith. Thei worship me in vain, teachyng the doctrine, and preceptes of men. Wee reproue therefore suche woorkes, but we highly cō mende, and earenestly require those ⟨p. 45⟩woorkes, whichē be accordyng to the wille and commaundemente of God. 7We must therfore doe good dedes, yet not to merite thereby life euerlastyng (for as the Apostle saieth. Life euerlastyng is the gifte of God) nor to make our boaste or bragge thereof, whiche 8Christe reproueth, nor yet for gaine, whiche also he disaloweth, Math. xxiij. but to the glory of God, to commende our vocacion, to shewe our thankfulnesse to God, and to profite our neighboure. Againe our Lorde faieth in the Gospell: Lette your light so shine before
- 1The force of faith.
- 2Good works come of •uth.Good workes come of •uth.
- 3i. Peter. i.
- 4i. Thes. iiii.
- 5works that men invent of their own brain.workes that men inuente of their owne braine.
- 6Collos. ii.
- 7The end of good worksThe ende of good workes
- 8Math. vi.
- 9Math. v.
