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

Treat. pag. 223. And indeed it is at last confessed, that its faith only that makes the contract between God and the soul: that good works are not required to this initial consenting unto Christ, so as to make him ours, but in the progress. This is that in effect, which the Papists affirm in other words, That the first Justification is only by faith, but the second by good works.

Answ. How would you have your Reader understand these two insinuations? 1. Have I so oft asserted that which you call my Confession, and put it into an Index of distinctions, least it should be over-looked, and told you as much so long ago in private writings, and do you now come out with an [Its at last confessed.] I hope you would not intimate that ever I denied it: or that ever I wrote Book of that subject, wherein I did not expressly aver it. But then (that you think not better of me then I deserve) I must tell you, that when I still excluded works from our begun Justification, it was external Obedience, and not Repentance, nor those acts of faith (even the Receiving ⟨p. 110⟩Christ as Lord and Teacher) which those that oppose me call works.

Answ. How would you have your Reader understand these two insinuations? 1. Have I so oft asserted that which you call my Confession, and put it into an Index of distinctions, least it should be over-lookt, and told you as much so long ago in private writings, and do you now come out with an [Its at last confessed.] I hope you would not intimate that ever I denyed it: or that ever I wrote Book of that subject, wherein I did not expresly averre it. But then (that you think not better of me then I deserve) I must tell you, that when I still excluded works from our begun Justification, it was external Obedience, and not Repentance, nor those acts of faith (even the Receiving ⟨p. 110⟩Christ as Lord and Teacher) which those that oppose me call works.