The Parable of the Wicked Mammon

And such like. Which all sound as though we should be justified and accepted unto the favour of God in Christ through good works. This wise answer I. Many there are which when they hear or read of faith, at once they consent there unto and have a certain imagination or opinion of the faith, as when a man telleth a story or a thing done in a strange land, that pertaineth not to them at all. Which yet they believe and tell as a true thing. And this imagination or opinion they call faith. They think no farther then that faith is a thing which standeth in their own power to have, as do other natural works, which men work: but they feel no manner working of that spirit, neither the terrible sentence of the law, the fearful judgements of God, the horrible damnation and captivity under Satan. Therefore as soon as they have this opinion or imagination in their hearts: that saith: verily this doctrine seemeth true, I believe it is even so.

And suche lyke. Whyche all sounde as though we shoulde be iustified and accep ted vnto the fauoure of God in Christe thorowe good workes. Thys wyse answere I. Many ther are whych when they heare or rede of fayth, at once they cōsēt ther vnto and haue a certayne ymaginacion or opinion of the faith, as when aman telleth a storye or a thynge done in a straūge lande, that pertayneth not to thē at all. Whiche yet they beleue and tell as a true thinge. And thys ymaginacyon or opinion they call fayth. They thinke no farther then that fayth is a thyng which standeth in their owne power to haue, as do other naturall workes, whyche men worke: but they fele no maner workynge of that spirit, neyther the terrible sentēce of the lawe, the fearfull iudgementes of God, the horrible damnacion and captiuite vnder Satan. Therfore as sone as they haue this opinion or imaginacion in their hertes: that sayth: verely thys doctryne semeth true, I beleue it is euen so.

Then they think that the right faith is there. But afterward when they feel in them selves, and also see in other that there is none alteration, and that the works follow not but that they are altogether even as before, and abide in their old estate: then think they that faith is not sufficient, but that it must be some greater thing, then faith that should justify a man. So fall they away from faith again, and cry saying faith only justifieth not a man, and maketh him acceptable to God. If thou ask them wherefore They answer, see how many there are that believe and yet do no more then they did before. These are they which Judas in his epistle calleth dreamers which deceive them selves with their own fantasies For what other thing is their imagination which they call faith, then a dreaming of the faith and an opinion of their own imagination wrought without the grace of God? These must needs be worse at the later end than