That faith the mother of all good works justifieth us before we ca[n] bring…That fayth the mother of all good workes iustifieth us before we ca[n] bringe…

They are not righteous before God which hear the law / but they which do the law shall be justified. Romano. ij. This rexte is plainer than that it needeth to be expounded. In the chapter before Paul proveth that the law natural helped not the gentiles. For the law of God was written in the hearts of the gentiles (as it appeareth by the laws / statutes and ordinances which they made in their cites) yet kept they them not. The great keep the small under further own profit with the violence of the law. Every man praiseth the law as fer forth as it is profitable and pleasant unto him self. But when his own appetites should be refrained / then grudgeth he against the law. More over he proveth that no knowledge helped the gentiles. For though the learned men (as the philosophers) came to the knowledge of God / by the creatures of the world / yet had they no power to worship God. In this second chapter proveth he that the Jews (though they had the law written) yet is ⟨image 60⟩helped them not: they could not keep it / but were idolaters and were also murderers / adulterers and what so ever the law forbade. He concludeth therefore that the Jew is as well dā ned as the gentile. If hearing of the law only might have justified / then had the Jews bin righteous. But it required that a man do the law / if he will be righteous. Which because the Jew did not / he is no less damned then the gentile. The publishing and declaring of the law doth but utter a mans sin / and giveth nether strength nor help to fulfil the law. The law killeth thy conscience and giveth the no lust to fulfil the law. Faith in Christ giveth lust and power to do the law. Now is it true that he which doeth the law is righteous / but that doth no man save he that believeth and putteth his trust in Christ.

THey are not righteous before God which heare the lawe / but they which do the lawe shall be iustyfyed. Romano. ij. This rexte ys playner than that it neadeth to be expouned. In the chapter before Paule proveth that the lawe naturall holpe not the gentyles. For the lawe of God was written in the hertes of the gentyles (as it appereth by the lawes / statutes and ordinaunces which they made inther cytes) yet kepte they them not. The grete kepe the smalle vnder forther owne profette with the violence of the lawe. Every man prayseth the lawe as fer forth as it is profitable and pleasaunte vnto him selfe. But when his awn appetites shulde be refrayned / then grudgeth he agaynst the lawe. More over he proveth that no knowleage holpe the gentyles. For though the lerned men (as the philosophers) came to the knowleage of God / by the creatures of the worlde / yet had they no power to worsheppe God. In thys seconde chapter proveth he that the Iewes (though they had the lawe written) yet is