The testament of master William Tracie esquire, expounded bothThe testament of master Wylliam Tracie esquier, expounded both

There is no man doubteth but that faith is the root of the tree / and the quickening power out of which all good fruits spring therefore it is necessary that this faith be present or else we should look for good works in vain: for without faith it is impossible to please god. Heb. xj. in so much that S. Austin called those works that are done before faith / swift running out of the way. Moreover that our merit cannot properly be ascribed unto our works doth the Evangelist teach us saying / when ye have done all things that are commanded you / say we are unprofitable servants / we have done but our duty. Luke .xvij. By the which saying he doth in a manner fear us from putting any confidence in our own works: And so is our glorious pride / and high mind excluded. Then where is our merit •harke what S. Austin saith: The death of the Lord is my merit: I am not with out merit as long as that merciful Lord faileth me not &c̄. This death of the lord cannot profit me / except I receive it through faith / and therefore he reckoneth right well that the faith in Christ is all his merit / I mean the faith which worketh through charity / that is to say faith / formed with hope & charity / & not that dead historical faith which the devils have and tremble. Jaco. ii. Furthermore what ⟨image 18⟩what S. Austin judgeth of our merit he expresseth in these words: mark the Psalm / how the proud head will not receive the crown / when he saith he that redeemed thy life from corruption: which crowneth the (saith the Psalm) here upon would a man say / which crowneth the / my merits grant that / my virtue hath done it / I have deserved it / ye is not freely given / but give care rather to the pleasure / for that is but thine own saying / and every man is a liar / but hear what God saith / which crowneth the in compassion and mercy / of mercy he crowneth the / of compassion he crowneth thee / for thou wast not worthy that he should call the / and whom he should justify when he called thee / And whom he should glorify when he justifieth thee: For the remnants are saved by the election which is by grace • favour. Rom. xi. Now if hit be by grace then is hit not of works / for then grace were no grace. Rom. iiij. For unto him that worketh is the reward imputed not of grace but of duty. Rom. iiij.

THere is no man doutyth but that fayth is the roote of the tree / and the quyckenynge power owt of which all good frutes sprynge therfore it is necessarye that this faith be present or els we shulde loke for good woorkes in vayne: for withoute faith it is impossible to please god. Heb. xj. in so moche that S. Austyn called those workes that are done before faith / swiffte runnynge owt of the waye. Morouer that owr merite cannot properlye be asscrybed vnto owr workes doth the Euangeliste teche vs saynge / when ye haue done all thinges that ar commaunded yow / saye we are vnprofitable seruauntis / we haue done but owr deutye. Luke .xvij. By the which sayynge he doth in a maner feare vs frome puttyng any confydence in our owne workes: And so is owr glorious pryde / and hye mynde excluded. Then where is owr merite harke what S. Austyne sayth: The death of the Lorde is my merite: I am not with out merite as longe as that mercyfull Lorde faylith me not &c̄. This deathe of the lorde cannot proffite me / excepte I receyue it thorowe faith / and therfore he reckenyth right well that the faith in Christe is all his meryt / I meane the faith which worketh thorowe cherite / that is to saye fayth / formed with hope & cherite / & not that dead historicall faith which the deuyls haue and tremble. Iaco. ii. Furthermore what