God and goodness, the more reason have we to give thanks to Him" from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed." God hath reserved to Himself the dispensing of the Holy Spirit, because He will be called upon for it by prayer: this article is not meant to be made use of to discourage our endeavours, but only to increase our humility, and induce us to apply to the strong for "strength equal to our day."

XI.

OF THE JUSTIFICATION OF MAN.

We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works or deservings: wherefore, that we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort: as more largely is expressed in the homily of justification.

Q. For what cause are we justified, or accounted righteous before God?

A. For the merit of our Lord and Saviour only. Q. By what means are we accounted righteous? A. By faith, and not for our own works or deservings.

Q. What is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort?

A. That we are justified by faith only.
Q. Where is this more largely expressed?
A. In the homily of justification.

Scripture Proofs.

Romans iii. 24. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans iv. 3.

Philippians iii. 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

Ephesians ii. 8, 9. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. Galatians ii. 16.

The doctrine of Justification by Faith only, was held so high by Martin Luther, that he considered this article of belief to be the test of orthodoxy, or otherwise, according as it was held soundly or. corruptly; that all other points were subordinate to and centered in this; and that every objection to it, which could possibly be devised, was done away by this single consideration, viz. that a right faith was necessarily productive of good works. But to name merits,' says the pious Hooker, is to lay our souls upon the rack; believers forsake all things wherein they have trusted, no staff to lean on, no ease, no rest, no comfort but only in Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.' 'We acknowledge a dutiful necessity of doing well, but the meritorious dignity of doing well, we utterly renounce.' Bishop Latimer says, 'It must not be our merits that serve, but Christ's;

our good works will be rewarded in heaven, but they cannot get heaven, for that would be a robbing of Christ.' -It cost much to redeem our souls, man must leave that alone for ever. If the reader thinks that St. Paul and St. James are at variance upon the subject of Justification, he may very easily reconcile them-the former is speaking of Justification before God, the latter of Justification before men.

D

73

XII.

OF GOOD WORKS.

Albeit that good works, which are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's judgment; yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith: insomuch that by them, a lively faith may be as evidently known, as a tree discerned by the fruit.

Q. What are good works?

A. The fruits of faith.

Q. Do they go before, or follow after justification?

A. They follow after.

Q. What can they not do?

A. They cannot put away our sins, nor endure the severity of God's judgments.

Q. What then are they?

A. Pleasing, and acceptable to God, in Christ.
Q. Whence do they spring?

A. Out of a true and lively faith.

Q. How may a lively faith be known?
A. As a tree is discerned by the fruit.