But suppose that good works are joined with Faith, which give evidence to men that it is a lively Faith: Will Faith justify thee? you will say, Why not? and I acknowledge the same my self. But I ask, wherefore doth Faith justify before God? because of the works that appear unto men? or are the works rather acceptable because of Faith? But how many works seem to be excellent in the sight of men, to which human Reason gives applause, and men, because of them, are accounted holy and just, when yet the matter is far otherways? And this is that Human 1Justification, which I spake of, and the Apostle James hath written of, which, though sometimes it judges according to Truth, yet much oftener it is deceived in judging: Why so? because the Judgment of God, and the Judgment of men are of a different nature. What man looking upon the Lives of the Pharisees, their long Prayers, frequent Fastings and Washings, their holy-like deportment, and all their outward shows of Piety, but would have judged them to be men very near, and dear unto God? when yet none were greater 2Strangers and Enemies to God than they? What man is there at this day, who looking upon the Orders ⟨p. 454⟩of the Monks, their Vows, Fastings, Rules, Austerity, and Rigour of Discipline, but would reckon them amongst the chiefest of those that are justified, when yet they are no such men in the sight of God?
But suppose that good works are joyned with Faith, which give evidence to men that it is a lively Faith: Will Faith justifie thee? you will say, Why not? and I acknowledge the same my self. But I ask, wherefore doth Faith justifie before God? because of the works that appear unto men? or are the works rather acceptable because of Faith? But how many works seem to be excellent in the sight of men, to which human Reason gives applause, and men, because of them, are accounted holy and just, when yet the matter is far otherways? And this is that Human 1Iustification, which I spake of, and the Apostle Iames hath written of, which, though someties it judges according to Truth, yet much oftener it is deceived in judging: Why so? because the Iudgment of God, and the Iudgment of men are of a different nature. What man looking upon the Lives of the Pharisees, their long Prayers, frequent Fastings and Washings, their holy-like deportment, and all their outward shews of Piety, but would have judged them to be men very near, and dear unto God? when yet none were greater 2Strangers and Enemies to God than they? What man is there at this day, who looking upon the Orders ⟨p. 454⟩of the Monks, their Vows, Fastings, Rules, Austerity, and Rigour of Discipline, but would reckon them amongst the chiefest of those that are justified, when yet they are no such men in the sight of God?
- 1Human Justification, which consists in the showing of good works.Human Iustification, which consists in the shewing of good works.
- 2An outward appearance is often deceitful.
