The whole works of W. Tyndall, John Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…The vvhole workes of W. Tyndall, Iohn Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…

In the iiij. Chapter (after that now by the 3. first Chapters the sins are opened, and the way of faith unto righteousness laid) he beginneth to answer unto certain objections and cavillations. And first putteth forth those blind reasons, which commonly they that will be justified by their own works are wont to make, when they hear that faith only without works justifieth, saying, shall men do no good ¹works, yea, and if faith only justifieth, what needeth a man to study for to do good works? He putteth forth therefore Abraham for an ensample, saying, what did Abraham with his works, was all in vain, came his works to no profit? And so concludeth that Abraham without, and before all works was justified and made righteous. In so much that before the work of Circumcision he was praised of the Scripture, and called righteous by his faith only. Gene. xv. So that he did not the work of Circumcision, for to be holpen there by unto righteousness, which yet God commanded him to do, & was a good work of obedience. So in likewise no doubt none other works help any thing at all unto a mans justifying, but as Abraham's Circumcision was an outward sign whereby he declared his righteousness which he had by faith, and his obedience and readiness unto the will of God, even so are all other good works outward signs and outward fruits of faith, & ²of the spirit, which justify not a man, but that a man is justified already before god inwardly in the hart, through faith, and through the spirit purchased by Christs blood.

In the iiij. Chapter (after that now by the 3. first Chapters the sinnes are opened, and the way of faith vnto rightuousnes layd) he begynneth to aunswere vnto certain obiections and cauillations. And first putteth forth those blinde reasons, whiche commonly they that wilbe iustified by their owne workes are wont to make, when they heare that faith onely without workes iustifieth, saying, shall men do no good ¹workes, yea, and if fayth onely iustifieth, what nedeth a man to studie for to do good workes? He putteth forth therfore Abraham for an ensample, saying, what did Abraham with his workes, was all in vayne, came his workes to no profite? And so concludeth that Abraham without, and before al workes was iustified and made righteous. In so much that before the worke of Circumcisiō he was praysed of the Scripture, and called righteous by his fayth onely. Gene. xv. So that he did not the worke of Circumcision, for to bee holpen there by vnto righteousnesse, whiche yet God commaunded hym to do, & was a good worke of obedience. So in likewise no doubt none other workes helpe any thyng at all vnto a mās iustifiyng, but as Abrahams Circumcisiō was an outward signe wherby he declared his righteousnes which he had by fayth, and his obedience and readynes vnto the will of God, euen so are all other good workes outward signes and outward frutes of fayth, &