N00652:29
Faith at work. A brief and plain essay, upon certain articles of the Gospel,…
Faith at work. A brief and plain essay, upon certain articles of the Gospel, most necessary to be understood by every Christian: to wit, the nature, the order, and the necessity of the good works, by which the faith of a Christian is to be evidenced. : [Two lines in Latin from Luther]
printed by B. Green, 1697
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But then, Good Works, are consequently necessary upon our Justification. 'Tis indeed said, That God Justifies the Ungodly; but then, He does not Leave them Ungodly when He hath Justified them. Well, And where Lies the Necessity? Truly, if we would not be vain men, we must Know such Things as these.
First, Wilt thou know, O man? That it is in the very Nature of a Justifying Faith, to put a man upon the Doing of Good Works. Faith is a Purifier of the Heart: [Acts 15.9.] and so, it cannot but be a Purifier of the Life. The same Faith, which Embraces the Lord Jesus Christ, as a Priest, for Atonement, (and As doing this it Justifies!) Embraces Him also, as a Prophet, & as a King: Now this Prophet will Instruct, & this King will Enjoin, our doing of Good Works for ever. A Justifying Faith, Receives Christ the Sacrificer, and the Intercessor; and in that Notion, it Justifies: But is this all? No, it also, according to Col. 2.6. Receives Christ the Lord. Now Good Works are by that Lord Required. 'Tis no True Faith, which any man hath, if it be not for a whole Christ. The Devil said unto our Lord Jesus Christ, What have we to do with thee, Thou Holy One? If a man would be concerned with our Lord Jesus Christ, only as a Merciful One, and a Gracious One, and not likewise as an Holy One, that man has no more Faith than a Devil! Justifying Faith is a Tree, which cannot but have the Good Fruits of Good Works growing upon it. It is the Holy Spirit of God, that Creates, and that Bestows, a Justifying Faith, wherever it is; and that Holy Spirit cannot suffer any Soul, in which He dwells, to be wholly Remiss about the Good Works which are agreeable unto His Holiness.
First, Wilt thou know, O man? That it is in the very Nature of a Justifying Faith, to put a man upon the Doing of Good Works. Faith is a Purifier of the Heart: [Acts 15.9.] and so, it cannot but be a Purifier of the Life. The same Faith, which Embraces the Lord Jesus Christ, as a Priest, for Atonement, (and As doing this it Justifies!) Embraces Him also, as a Prophet, & as a King: Now this Prophet will Instruct, & this King will Injoin, our doing of Good Works for ever. A Justifying Faith, Receives Christ the Sacrificer, and the Intercessor; and in that Notion, it Justifies: But is this all? No, it also, according to