A25294:742
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian…The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian…
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian catechism in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy labourer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian catechisme in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy laborer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...
London: printed by T. Mabb for Thomas Davies, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
IN these words is contained the conclusion of that disputation, which James had against such as vaunt of Faith, that is, destitute of good-works: For the Apostle concludes, that such Faith is of no worth unto justification: And this conclusion is often repeated, as vers. 14, 17. and 20. 22. and 24. under sundry forms of words; but to one and the same sense. Now this Conclusion which the Apostle proves, is not that good-works are any part, or cause of our justification before God, as Papists take it; nor yet (as many of our own think) that our works justify us before men, however that contain a truth in it; but this is the conclusion, that justifying faith is such, that it worketh, and puts forth its operation by good-works.
IN these words is contain'd the conclusion of that disputation, which Iames had against such as vant of Faith, that is, destitute of good-works: For the Apostle concludes, that such Faith is of no worth unto justification: And this conclusion is often repeated, as vers. 14, 17. and 20. 22. and 24. under sundry formes of words; but to one and the same sense. Now this Conclusion which the Apostle proves, is not that good-works are any part, or cause of our justification before God, as Papists take it; nor yet (as many of our own think) that our works justifie us before men, however that contain a truth in it; but this is the conclusion, that justifying faith is such, that it worketh, and puts forth its operation by good-works.
And it is proved 1. from a comparison of likes▪ ⟨p. 162⟩from vers. 15. to the 18. 2. By another comparison of likes, to wit, of such a fruitless faith in men, and devils, vers. 19. 3. from the example and pattern of that faith that was in Abraham, vers. 21. of all which the conclusion is set down in this 22. vers. In which two things are determined, 1. That true and justifying faith is fruitful of good works. 2. That good works are the end and perfection of faith; for faith is said to co-operate with good works, because together with the command of God, it furnisheth its strength and force of working, for producing of good works: And that works are called the perfection of faith; it is not so to be understood, as if they were the internal and formal perfection of faith; as the form is the formal and essential perfection of every thing: But in that they contain and show the external perfection of faith, in as much as they flow from it, and as every effect contains in it self some perfection of its course; to wit, as it partakes of the force and virtue that comes from the internal perfection of the cause.