Fifthly you object, that I understand not our own doctrine, and here according to your manner,1 you wander up and down, as a man that had lost his way, who though he know not whether to go, yet will be going still. It pitieth me to see your miserable folly, and blindness, whereinto you are willingly fallen. But thus will the lord deal with such as wilfully give over the known truth. Where I say, that we must necessarily suffer with Christ, if we will be glorified with Christ, this silly sophister asketh, how this standeth with our doctrine of only faith: as though there were any likeness of contradiction at all, between these ⟨p. 131⟩two sayings. For know you what is meant by only faith? If you do not, you are to blame to charge me with ignorance of that, which your self do not understand:2 if you do, then can you not but plainly perceive, that the doctrine of necessary suffering with Christ, is not any way contrary to the Doctrine of our justifying by faith only. Although we truly teach, that only faith doth justify, because it is the only instrument, by which we take hold upon Jesus Christ, and so are justified: yet we teach that justifying faith can never lack good works, and hereof it followeth that whosoever hath faith, must also bring forth the fruits of faith, which are good works, & that necessarily, thereby to declare, and testify his faith, as the Apostle Saint James doth fully prove. This necessary conjunction of works and faith, the effect and the cause, doth not disprove, but that our apprehension of Christ is to be attributed to only faith:3 as the beholding of the light is the only & proper function of the eye, although the faculty of seeing cannot be divided from the sense of feeling. Yet no man will say that we perceive the brightness of the sun by our ⟨p. 132⟩feeling, but by our seeing only. So though our faith can never be alone, but is always fruitful of good works, yet it only doth justify, and not good works, in that it only layeth hold upon Christ our righteousness. You have a weak head Master Rainolds, if you stagger at this. But blessed be God, that striketh his enemies thus with giddiness.
Fiftlie you obiect, that I vnderstand not our owne doctrine, and here according to your maner,1 you wander vp and downe, as a man that had lost his waie, who though he knowe not whether to goe, yet wil be going still. It pitieth me to see your miserable follie, and blindnes, wherinto you are willingly fallen. But thus wil the lord deale with such as wilfully giue ouer the knowne truth. Where I saie, that we must necessarilie suffer with Christ, if we will be glorified with Christ, this seely sophister asketh, how this standeth with our doctrine of onelie faith: as though there were anie likenes of contradiction at all, betweene these ⟨p. 131⟩two sayings. For knowe you what is meant by onelie faith? If you doe not, you are to blame to charge me with ignorance of that, which your selfe do not vnderstand:2 if you doe, then can you not but plainlie perceiue, that the doctrine of necessarie suffering with Christ, is not anie waie contrary to the Doctrine of our iustifying by faith onelie. Although we trulie teach, that onelie faith doth iustifie, because it is the onlie instrument, by which we take holde vpon Iesus Christ, and so are iustified: yet we teach that iustifiing faith can neuer lacke good workes, and hereof it followeth that whosoeuer hath faith, must also bring forth the fruites of faith, which are good workes, & that necessarilie, therby to declare, and testifie his faith, as the Apostle Saint Iames doth fullie prooue. This necessarie coniunction of workes and faith, the effect and the cause, doth not disprooue, but that our apprehension of Christ is to be attributed to onelie faith:3 as the beholding of the light is the onely & proper function of the eie, although the facultie of seeing cannot be deuided from the sense of feeling. Yet no man will saie that we perceiue the brightnes of the sunne by our ⟨p. 132⟩feeling, but by our seeing onelie. So though our faith can neuer be alone, but is alwaies fruitfull of good workes, yet it onelie doth iustifye, and not good workes, in that it onelie laieth holde vpon Christ our righteousnes. You haue a weake head Master Rainolds, if you stagger at this. But blessed be God, that striketh his enimies thus with giddines.
- 1Pag. 110. &c.
- 2Justification by faith only excludeth not necessary duties of Christian obedience.Iustification by faith onely excludeth not necessary dueties of Christian obedience.
- 3Faith although it never be alone yet it apprehendeth Christ, & justifieth alone.Faithe although it neuer be alone yet it apprehendeth Christ, & iustifieth alone.
