A harmony upon the the three Evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentary…A harmonie vpon the the three Euangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentarie…

21 But he that doth. This seemeth to be spoken unproperly & absurdly unless you will confess that there are some that be righteous, & which speak the truth, before they be regenerate by the spirit of God. Which thing agreeth not with the perpetual doctrine of the scripture. For we know that faith is the root from which the fruits of good works do spring. To the end that Augustine may resolve this doubt, he expoundeth these words doth the truth, thus: he which acknowledgeth how miserable we are, and destitute of all power to do well.

21 But he that doth. This seemeth to be spoken vnproperly & absurdly vnlesse you will confesse that there are some that be righteous, & which speake the truth, before they be regenerate by the spirite of God. VVhich thing agreeth not with the perpetuall doctrine of the scripture. For wee know that faith is the roote from which the fruits of good woorkes doe spring. To the end that Augustine may resolue this doubt, hee expoundeth these wordes doth the truth, thus: hee which acknowledgeth howe miserable we are, and destitute of all power to doe well.

And indeed this is the true preparation unto faith, when as being enforced with the feeling of our poverty, we fly unto the grace of God. But all this is contrary to Christ his mind: for his meaning was simply to affirm, that those who deal sincerely, do desire nothing more then the light, that their works may be proved and tried, because after that such trial is made, it doth better appear that they spake the truth before God, and were clean from all deceit. But some man will infer falsely and ignorantly, that mens consciences do not accuse them before faith cometh. For Christ doth not say that the elect do believe that they may win praise for their good works: but he declareth only what the infidels would do unless their own consciences did accuse them. Furthermore, Christ useth this word truth, because being deceived with the external show of works, we do not consider what lurketh with in. Therefore he saith that perfect men, and those who are no dissemblers, do willingly come forth into the sight of God, who is only fit to give judgement of our works. For those works are said in this place to be done in God, which he alloweth, and are good according to his rule. Hereby we may learn that we must not judge of works, unless we behold them with the light of the Gospel: because our reason is altogether blind,