The Institution of Christian Religion

Therefore into how many ways soever they wrest the words of James, they shall wring out nothing but two sentences: y• a vain bodiless show of faith doth not justify, & that a faithful man not contented with such an Imaginative show, doth declare his righteousness by good works.

Therefore into howe manye waies soeuer thei wrest ye words of Iames, thei shal wring out nothing but two sentences: y• a vaine bodilesse shewe of faith doth not iustifie, & yt a faithful man not cōtented wt such an Imaginatiue shew, doth declare his righteousnesse by good workes.

As for that which they allege out of Paul the same meaning, that the doers §13of the law,¹ not the hearers, are justified, it nothing helpeth them. I will not escape away with the solution of Ambrose, that that is therefore spoken because the fulfilling of the law is faith in Christ. For I see that it is but a mere starting hole, which nothing needeth where there is abroad way open. There the Apostle throweth down yt Jews from foolish confidence, which boasted themselves of the only knowledge of the law, when in the mean time they were the greatest despisers of it. Therefore that they should not stand so much in their own conceit for the bare knowledge of the law he warneth them, that if righteousness be sought out of the law, not the knowledge but the observing of it is required. We verily make no doubt of this that the righteousness of the law standeth in works: nor yet of this also, that the righteousness consisteth in the worthiness & merits of works. But it is not yet proved, that we are justified by works, unless they bring forth some man that hath fulfilled the law. And that Paul meant none otherwise, the hanging together of the text shall be a sufficient testimony. After that he had generally condemned the Gentiles & the Jews of unrighteousness, then he descendeth to the particular showing of it, & saith that they which sinned without the Law, do perish without the law: which is spoken of the Gentiles: but they which have sinned in the law, are judged by the law: which pertaineth to the Jews. Now because they winking at their own trespassings, proudly gloried of the only law: he adjoineth that which most fitly agreed, that the law was not therefore made, that men should be made righteous by only hearing of the voice thereof: but then & not till then when their obeyed: as if he should say: Seekest thou righteousness in the law? allege not the hearing of it, which of it self is of small importance: but bring works, by which ye mayest declare that the law was not set for thee in vain. Of these works because they were all destitute, it followed that they were spoiled of glorying of the law. Therefore we must of the meaning of Paul rather frame a contrary argument. The righteousness of the law consisteth in the perfection of works. No man can boast that he hath by works satisfied the law. Therefore there is no righteousness by the law.