Of justification four disputations clearing and amicably defending the truth against the unnecessary oppositions…

The confirmed Covenant. 14. The Inheritance. 15. Righteousness. 16. Adoption. 17. That Belief is the means, and believers the subjects of these benefits. All these objects of Faith you will find in the Text.

Argument 2. Ex natura rei. If other acts of faith in Christ are no more works then that one (whatsoever it be) which you will say Paul opposeth to works, then Paul doth not call them works▪ or number them with works. But the Antecedent is true, therefore so is the Consequent. Doubtless the Scripture calls them as they are: and therefore if they are not works, it calls them not works. And for the Antecedent, 1. If by works you mean the Keeping of the first Covenant by sinless obedience, so neither the one or the other are works. 2. If you mean the keeping of Moses Law; so neither of them are works. 3. If you mean the performance of an act of obedience to any Precept of God, so the several acts are works, but justify not as acts of obedience to the command (that's but their matter) but as the condition of the Promise. 4. If you mean that they are Acts of the soul of man, so every act of Faith is a work, though it justify not as such, so that here is no difference to be found. E. g. If you make the Believing in Christ as Dying, (though you take in both assent and affiance) to be the only Justifying act; what reason can you give why our Believing in Christ incarnate, in Christ obeying the Law, in Christ rising again, and Glorified and Interceding, in Christ actually now giving out the pardon of sin and Adoption, &c. should be called works any more then our Believing in Christ as crucified? No reason at all, nor any Scripture can be brought for it. Yea what reason have you that our Believing in Christ as the Physician of our souls, to cure us of our sins, and cleanse our hearts, and sanctify our Natures, and in Christ as the Teacher and Guide of our souls to life eternal, should be called works ⟨p. 413⟩any more then the other? Or that believing in Christs blood for everlasting Life and happiness, should be any more called works then believing in his blood for Justification? Yea that Believing in him as the King, and Head, and Captain of his Church to subdue their enemies, and by his Government conduct them to perseverance and to Glory, should any more be called works then believing on him as crucified in order to forgiveness?