❧ An Homily of good works. And first of Fasting.❧ An Homilee of good workes. And first of Fasting.

❧ An Homily of good works. And first of Fasting.

❧ An Homilee of good workes. And first of Fasting.

THE life which we live in this world (good Christian people) is of the free benefit of God lent us, yet not to use it at our pleasure, after our own fleshly will: but to trade over the same in those works which are beseeming them that are become new creatures in Christ. These works the Apostle calleth good works, saying: ¹We are Gods workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God hath ordained that we should walk in them. And yet his meaning is not by these words, to induce us to have any affiance, or to put any confidence in our works, as by the merit and deserving of them to purchase to our selves and others remission of sin, & so consequently everlasting life, for that were mere blasphemy against Gods mercy, and great derogation to the bloodshedding of our saviour Jesus Christ. For it is of the free grace & mercy of God, by the mediation of the blood of his Son Jesus Christ, without merit or deserving on our part, that our sinews are forgiven us, that we are reconciled and brought again into his favour, and are made heirs of his heavenly kingdom. Grace (saith S. Augustine) ⟨p. 172⟩belongeth to God, who doth call us, and then hath he good works, whosoever received grace. ²Good works then bring not forth grace: but are brought forth by grace. The wheel (sayeth he) turneth round, not to the end that it may be made round: but because it is first made round, therefore it turneth round. So, no man doth good works, to receive grace by his good works: but because he hath first received grace, therefore consequently he doth good works. And in another place he saith: Good works go not before in him which shall afterward be justified, but good works do follow after when ³a man is first justified. Saint Paul therefore teacheth, that we must do good works for divers respects. First, to show our selves obedient children unto our heavenly father, who hath ordained them, that we should walk in them. Secondly, for that they are good declarations and testimonies of our justification. Thirdly, that others seeing our good works, may the rather by them be stirred up and excited to glorify our father which is in heaven.