That sinners1 were justified before God, by faith in Christ, & not by circumcision or the deeds of the law. Against this doctrine did the enemies of Paul (who notwithstanding ⟨p. 38⟩were reckoned amongst the faithful, and taught the faith in Christ, but yet not sincerely) set them selves, saying, that they ought to be circumcised, to keep the law, and to be saved by the works thereof. And that this was the doctrine and judgement of both the parts, doth evidently appear by the xv. chapter of the Acts, and the Epistle to the Galatians. Wherefore sith ye teach the merit of works, and dare to say that justification is not of faith only in Christ, but by good works, consider whether we, or ye with your doctrine, come most near to the judgement and opinion of Pauls adversaries. And although they were such, yet nevertheless, they proponed their opinion in the Council at Jerusalem,2 & were heard: for in the. xv. of the Acts it is written, that there was great disputation between Paul and Barnabas. Wherefore if we were Heretics (as we are not,) yet ought we by right, to be hard in the council as they were. And because the example of the Apostles, which ye do use, showeth that they ⟨image 49⟩condemned those which taught contrary to Paul, and we have already proved that ye teach the same, it followeth that ye also are condemned in them. But if as you suppose, the adversaries of Paul had no place in the council, then ye which agree with them in opinion, shall have no place by your own judgement, in a lawful council. But if they which consented to Pauls doctrine, were admitted into the council, and gave sentence against Pauls enemies, then ought we by good right, to set in the council, and to give sentence against you. For we teach like doctrine with Paul, touching Christ, faith in Christ, and of justification, to wit, that we be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works. And hereby it appeareth that this question maketh directly against your selves.
That sinners1 vvere iustified before God, by faith in Christ, & not by circumcision or the deedes of the lavv. Against this doctrine did the enemies of Paul (who notwithstanding ⟨p. 38⟩were reckened amongste the faithful, and taught the faith in Christ, but yet not sincerely) set them selues, saying, that they ought to be circūcised, to keepe the law, and to be saued by the workes thereof. And that this was the doctrine and iudgemente of bothe the partes, dothe euidently appeare by the xv. chapter of the Actes, and the Epistle to the Galathians. Wherefore sith yée teache the merite of woorkes, and dare to say that iustification is not of faithe only in Christe, but by good woorkes, consider whether we, or yée with your doctrine, come most neare to the iudgement and opinion of Paules aduersaries. And althoughe they were suche, yet neuerthelesse, they proponed theyr opinion in the Councell at Jerusalem,2 & were heard: for in the. xv. of the Actes it is written, that there was great disputation betwéene Paule and Barnabas. Wherfore if we were Heretickes (as we are not,) yet ought we by right, to be hard in the councel as they were. And bicause the example of the Apostles, which yée doe vse, sheweth yt they ⟨image 49⟩condemned those which taught contrary to Paule, and we haue already proued that yée teach the same, it foloweth that yée also are condemned in them. But if as you suppose, the aduersaryes of Paule had no place in the councell, then yée which agrée with them in opinion, shall haue no place by your owne iudgement, in a lawfull councell. But if they which consented to Paules doctrine, were admitted into the councell, and gaue sentence against Paules enimies, then oughte we by good righte, to set in the councell, and to giue sentence against you. For we teach like doctrine with Paule, touching Christe, fayth in Christe, and of iustification, to wit, that we be iustified by faith in Christe, and not by workes. And héereby it appeareth that this question maketh directly against your selues.
- 1The some of Pauls doctrine and of his adversaries.The some of Paules doctrine and of his aduersaries.
- 2Whither Heretics ought to be admitted into a counsell.Whither Heretikes ought to be admitted into a counsell.
