The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

A dead Faith, a Faith without Works, the Faith of Devils is excluded from having any influence into Justification, Fourthly, He adds that the Apostle compares this Faith without Works unto a rich man that gives nothing unto the poor, ver. 16. and a Body without a Spirit, ver. 26. wherefore, as that knowledge whereby a rich man knows the wants of the poor is true and real, and a dead body is a body; so is Faith without Works true Faith also, and as such is considered by Saint James. Ans. These things do evidently destroy what they are produced in the confirmation of, only the Cardinal helps them out with a little Sophistry. For whereas the Apostle compares this Faith unto the charity of a man that gives nothing to the poor, he suggests in the room thereof his knowledge of their poverty. And his knowledge may be true, and the more true and certain it is, the more false and feigned is the charity which he pretends in these words, Go and be fed or clothed. Such is the Faith the Apostle speaks of. And although a dead body is a true body, that is, as unto the matter or substance of it, a Carcass; yet is it not an essential part of a living man. A Carcass is not of the same nature or kind as is the body of a living man. And we assert no other difference between the Faith spoken of by the Apostle, and that which is justifying, than what is between a dead breathless Carcass and a living animated body, prepared and fitted for all vital acts. Wherefore it is evident beyond all contradiction, if we have not a mind to be contentious, that what the Apostle James here derogates from Faith as unto our Justification it respects only a dead barren lifeless Faith, such as is usually pretended by ungodly ⟨p. 569⟩godly men to countenance themselves in their sins. And herein the Faith asserted by Paul hath no concern. The consideration of the present condition of the profession of Faith in the World, will direct us unto the best exposition of this place.

A dead Faith, a Faith without Works, the Faith of Devils is excluded from having any influence into Justification, Fourthly, He adds that the Apostle compares this Faith without Works unto a rich man that gives nothing unto the poor, ver. 16. and a Body without a Spirit, ver. 26. wherefore, as that knowledg whereby a rich man knows the wants of the poor is true and real, and a dead body is a body; so is Faith without Works true Faith also, and as such is considered by Saint James. Ans. These things do evidently destroy what they are produced in the confirmation of, only the Cardinal helps them out with a little Sophistry. For whereas the Apostle compares this Faith unto the charity of a man that gives nothing to the poor, he suggests in the room thereof his knowledge of their poverty. And his knowledge may be true, and the more true and certain it is, the more false and feigned is the charity which he pretends in these words, Go and be fed or cloathed. Such is the Faith the Apostle speaks of. And although a dead body is a true body, that is, as unto the matter or substance of it, a Carcass; yet is it not an essential part of a living man. A Carcass is not of the same nature or kind as is the body of a living man. And we assert no other difference between the Faith spoken of by the Apostle, and that which is justifying, than what is between a dead breathless Carcass and a living animated body, prepared and fitted for all vital acts. Wherefore it is evident beyond all contradiction, if we have not a mind to be contentious, that what the Apostle James here derogates from Faith as unto our Justification it respects only a dead barren lifeless Faith, such as is usually pretended by ungodly