A confession of faith made by common consent of divers reformed churches beyond the…A confession of fayth made by common consent of diuers reformed churches beyonde the…

Look not every man on his own matters, but on other mens things also: And Tite. iij. Let our brethren learn to show for the good works, for necessary ⟨image 90⟩uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Looke not euery man on his owne matters, but on other mennes thynges also: And Tite. iij. Lette our brethren learne to shewe for the good woorkes, for necessarie ⟨image 90⟩vses, that thei be not vnfruitfull.

Albeit therefore we teach, as the ¹Apostle doeth, that a man is Justified freely, by faith in Christ, and not by any good works, yet we do not despise, or condemn good works, we knowing that man was not made, nor regenerate by faith, to be idle, but rather to do without ceasing, those things, which are good and profitable. For in the Gospel the lord faith: A good tree bringeth forth good fruit: ²And in John. xv. He that dwelleth in me, bringeth forth much fruit. To conclude, the Apostle sayeth, we are Gods creatures made in Christ Jesus, to do good works, which GOD hath prepared to walk in. And again ³who delivered himself for us, to redeem us from all our iniquity, and to cleanse his own peculiar people, which do good works. We condemn therefore, all those that despise good works, babbling that they are unprofitable, ⁴and not to be regarded. Notwithstanding we think not, as was said before, that we are saved by good works, ⟨p. 46⟩or that they are so necessary that without them no man was ever saved. For by grace, & by Christs only benefit we are saved: Works come of saith necessarily, but yet salvation is unproperly ascribed to them, for most aptly it is to be attributed to grace. For that saying of the Apostle is very well known, if it be of grace, it is no more of works, or else were grace, no grace: But if it be of works, it is no more grace, or else were