1we will add therefore authorities first of scripture & then of doctors, that shall clearly testify that only faith is the very justice by which we be reputed just before god, that is to say, not because it is a work worthy of it self, but because it receiveth the promise by which god hath promised, that for Christ he will be merciful to the believers in him, or be cause it believeth, that Christ is made for us by god a wisdom, justice, sanctification and ⟨image 58⟩redemption:2 Paul in the epistle to the Romans disputeth principally of thꝭ place and propoundeth that we be freely justified by faith if we believe that god is pacified with us for Christ. And in the third chapter he bringeth in, this proposition which containeth the sum of his hole disputacion. Arbitramur. igitur hominem fide justificari, non ex operibus legis .i. we judge therefore that man is justified by •ayth and not by the works of the law. Here the adversaries do interpret the works of the law to be the Levitical ceremonies. But Paul not only speaketh of the ceremonies,* but of the hole law. For he allegeth a little after, forth of the Decalogie, Non concupisces .i. thou shalt not covet. Moreover if the moral works might deserve remission of since and justification, then needed not Christ, nor the promise, then all were to no purpose that Paul speaketh of promise. He should write also amiss to the Ephesians, that we be saved freely, and that it is a gift of god, and proceedeth not of works. Also Paul allegeth Abraham, he allegeth David. But these had a commandment of god of circumcision, wherefore if any works justified it was necessary that tho works which then were commanded should have justified.4 But Austin doth rightly teach that Paul spake of the hole law, as he disputeth copiously in his book, de spiritu & litera, where at last he sayeth thus. His igitur consideratis pertractatis•• pro viribus quas dominus donare dignatur, colligimus non justificare •ominem preceptis bone vite, nisi per fidem Jesa Christi. .i. These therefore considered and handled according to the power which god vouchsafeth to give us, we gather that ⟨image 58⟩man is not justified by the precepts of good life, but by faith of Jesus Christ.
1we wyll adde therfore authorities fyrste of scripture & thē of doctours, that shal clearely testifye that onely fayth is the very iustice by whiche we be reputed iuste before god, that is to say, nat because it is a worke worthy of it selfe, but because it receyueth the promisse by whiche god hath promised, that for Christ he wyll be mercifull to the beleuers in him, or be cause it beleueth, that Christe is made for vs by god a wysdom, iustice, sanctificacion and ⟨image 58⟩redempcion:2 Paule in the epystle to the Romanes disputeth principally of thꝭ place and propouneth that we be frely iustified by fayth if we beleue that god is pacified with vs for Christe. And in the thyrde chapitre he bryngeth in, this proposicion whiche conteyneth the sum of his hole disputacion. Arbitramur. igitur hominem fide iustificari, non ex operibus legis .i. we iudge therfore that mā is iustified by •ayth and nat by the workes of the lawe. Here the aduersaries do īterprete the workꝭ of the lawe to be the Leuitical ceremonies. But Paule nat only speketh of the ceremonies,* but of the hole lawe. For he alledgeth a litle after, forth of the Decalogie, Non concupisces .i. thou shalte nat couet. Moreouer if ye morall workꝭ myght deserue remission of synnes and iustificacion, then neded nat Christe, nor the promise, then all were to no purpose that Paule speketh of promyse. He shulde wryte also amys to the Ephesians, that we be saued frely, and that it is a gyfte of god, and procedeth nat of workꝭ. Also Paule alledgeth Abraham, he alledgeth Dauid. But these had a cōmaūdement of god of circumcision, wherfore if any workes iustifyed it was necessary that tho workes whiche then were commaunded shulde haue iustifyed.4 But Austyne doth ryghtly teache that Paule spake of the hole lawe, as he disputeth copiously in his boke, de spiritu & litera, where at last he sayeth thus. His igitur cōsideratis pertractatis•• pro viribus quas dominus donare dignatur, colligimꝰ non iustificare •ominem preceptis bone vite, nisi per fidem Iesa Christi. .i. These therfore consydered and handled accordyng to the power whiche god vouchsaueth to gyue vs, we gather that ⟨image 58⟩man is nat iustifyed by the preceptes of good lyfe, but by faythe of Iesu Christe.
- 1Authorities of scripture that only faith justifieth.Authorities of scripture that only fayth iustifyeth.
- 2Authorities out of saint Paul.Authorities out of saynte Paule.
- *The true interpretation of Paul.The trewe interpretacion of Paule.
- 4Austins interpretation upon Paul.Austynes interpretaciō vpō Paule.
