Therefore in this place something hath been said of Faith, and all that manner of Righteousness; which the Divine Authority attributes to Faith only without Works. More things elsewhere have been explained by us in other Books: From which things just conclusions being drawn, it evidently appears, if I am not mistaken, wherein all our righteousness consists, not in Works without Faith, nor joined together with Faith, but wholly in ⟨p. 82⟩Faith without Works; that is, without the merits of Works, or any condition of meriting. For if Faith, which is nothing else but an internal and illuminated contemplation, and receiving of Christ the Son of God, receives a free promise of Life in him; I do not well see what the good deeds of our Life, thought excellent, can perform in this part of justification. Yet it doth not 1follow from hence that the Holy practice of good Works for necessary uses, that I may speak with Paul, is not upon any account necessary. Neither is it a reason forcible enough, if any Man teaches that no trust should be put in Works, that therefore there is no need of any care to do good: For what Logic is this? Works should not be trusted in when they are performed: Therefore there is no need to endeavour 2to perform Good and Holy Works. We are no other ways justified but upon the account of Faith which is in Christ Jesus: Therefore Offices of Piety are not necessary in those, who are justified by Faith. Faith only, not upon the account of Love, but of the Mediator, promotes us to righteousness; Therefore, 3it profits nothing, to repent, and to weep and mourn for sins committed: It is of no concernment after what manner every one leads his Life; for so you seem to gather, and not you only, O Osorius, but also as ⟨p. 83⟩many as being like to you, bear 4an enmity to Luther. And hence such fierce out-cries of yours against him, such odious and bitter ragings, reproaches, evil reports, and outrageous invectives, being filled not so much with Evil Speeches, as most filthy Lies. But this is no new nor strange thing, either because you are of your old temper and disposition, 5or because it is, and always was the condition of the Gospel, which hath already been accustomed enough to such like Enemies and reproaches. So Saul persecuted David a most moderate Prince, by whom he had never been hurt. So when Christ was born, Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him:
THerefore in this place something hath been said of Faith, and all that manner of Righteousness; which the Divine Authority attributes to Faith only without Works. More things elsewhere have been explained by us in other Books: From which things just conclusions being drawn, it evidently appears, if I am not mistaken, wherein all our righteousness consists, not in Works without Faith, nor joined together with Faith, but wholly in ⟨p. 82⟩Faith without Works; that is, without the merits of Works, or any condition of meriting. For if Faith, which is nothing else but an internal and illuminated contemplation, and receiving of Christ the Son of God, receives a free promise of Life in him; I do not well see what the good deeds of our Life, thought excellent, can perform in this part of justification. Yet it doth not 1follow from hence that the Holy practice of good Works for necessary uses, that I may speak with Paul, is not upon any account necessary. Neither is it a reason forcible enough, if any Man teaches that no trust should be put in Works, that therefore there is no need of any care to do good: For what Logick is this? Works should not be trusted in when they are performed: Therefore there is no need to endeavour 2to perform Good and Holy Works. We are no other ways justified but upon the account of Faith which is in Christ Iesus: Therefore Offices of Piety are not necessary in those, who are justified by Faith. Faith only, not upon the account of Love, but of the Mediatour, promotes us to righteousness; Therefore, 3it profits nothing, to repent, and to weep and mourn for sins committed: It is of no concernment after what manner every one leads his Life; for so you seem to gather, and not you only, O Osorius, but also as ⟨p. 83⟩many as being like to you, bear 4an enmity to Luther. And hence such fierce out-cries of yours against him, such odious and bitter ragings, reproaches, evil reports, and outragious invectives, being filled not so much with Evil Speeches, as most filthy Lyes. But this is no new nor strange thing, either because you are of your old temper and disposition, 5or because it is, and always was the condition of the Gospel, which hath already been accustomed enough to such like Enemies and reproaches. So Saul persecuted David a most moderate Prince, by whom he had never been hurt. So when Christ was born, Herod was troubled, and all Ierusalem with him:
- 1Works, tho' they do not justify, yet are not denied to be necessary.Works, tho' they do not justifie, yet are not denied to be necessary.
- 2The calumnies of the Adversaries against Pious Doctors.
- 3Luther is unjustly reviled as a despiser of Good Works.
- 4It is fatal to the Gospel to suffer violence, and undergo calumnies.
- 5Mat. 2. Mat. 26, 27. Act. 8. Eusebius, See the History of Huss.
