The suruey of popery vvherein the reader may cleerely behold, not onely the originall and daily incrementes of papistrie, with an euident confutation of the same; but also a succinct and profitable enarration of the state of Gods Church from Adam vntill Christs ascension, contained in the first and second part thereof: and throughout the third part poperie is turned vp-side downe.

The 5. conclusion.

Man is iustified by sole and only faith; that is to say, faith

onely is the instrument, by which man applieth to himselfe, the righteousnesse of God in Christ Iesus.* 1.1 This conclusion con∣taineth three thinges; First, that Gods righteousnesse is that [ 1] iustice which we present for our iustification. Secondly, that it is ours for the merites of Christ Iesus. Thirdly, that we ap∣prehend [ 2] and take hold vpon it, by faith only; and so we haue the [ 3] explication, howe sole faith doth iustifie. Which because the papistes so bitterly impugne, I will prooue it both by y^e scrip∣tures and the fathers. If Abraham (saith S. Paule) were iu∣stified by works,* 1.2 he hath wherin to reioyce, but not with God. For what saith the Scripture? Abraham beleeued God, and it was counted to him for righteousnesse. Thus saith the Apo∣stle. [ 1] Out of which wordes I note first, that workes did not iu∣stifie [ 2] Abraham before God. I note secondly, that that iustice by which man standeth cleere before God, is only imputatiue, and not really inherent in himselfe. Which imputatiue iustice, the Apostle doth often inculcate in this chapter, the fourth to the Romaines. I note thirdly, that faith is counted our righ∣teousnesse. [ 3] Which the apostle expresseth more liuely in the fift verse; But to him that worketh not (saith hee) but beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly,* 1.3 his faith is counted for righte∣ousnesse. Loe, not the worker, but the beleeuer is iustified, and that by imputation.

The same apostle after a long discourse, to prooue that a man is iustified by faith onely,* 1.4 in another place addeth these words; We therfore think y^t a man is iustified by faith, without the workes of the law. Loe, the holy apostle, after a long dispu∣tation, which is implied in the worde (therefore,) concludeth, that we are iustified by faith without works. As if he had said; sole faith, only faith, or faith without works doth iustifie, albeit the papistes cannot, or will not it see. This whole processe is confirmed, by the vniforme testimonies of the auncient fathers, who all ascribe our iustification to sole faith.

S. Ambrose hath these wordes, Iustificati sunt gratis, quia nihil operantes, ne{que} vicena reddentes, sola fide iustificati sunt dono Dei.* 1.5 They are iustified freely, because they neither doing any worke, nor making any compensation, are iustified by sole faith through the grace of God. The like sayinges hee hath in

sundry other places. S. Chrysostome hath these wordes; Ʋnum hoc tantummodo donum Deo obtulimus,* 1.6 quod futura nobis pro∣mittenti credimus, atque hac solum via seruati sumus. This one only gift do we present to God, that we beleeue him when he promiseth vs future giftes, and by this only way are we sa∣ued. Againe in another place he writeth thus; Aut fidem dicit, decretum illam vocans. Ex sola quippe fide nos saluauit.* 1.7 Or hee meaneth faith, calling it the decree. For by only faith hath he sa∣ued vs.

S. Hilarie hath these wordes; Mouet scribas remissum ab homine peccatum;* 1.8 hominem enim tantum in Iesu Christo contue∣bantur, & remissum ab eo quod lex laxare non poterat. Fides enim sola iustificat. It vexeth the Scribes, that man forgiueth sinnes, for they onely considered Christ Iesus to be man, and that he forgaue that which the law could not doe. For sole faith doth iustifie.

S. Basill hath these words;* 1.9 Nam ea demum perfecta & om∣nimodae gloriatio est in Deo, quando ne{que} propter suam ipsius quis extollitur iustitiam, sed agnoscit se quidem verae destitui iu∣stitia, verùm sola in Christum fide iustificatum esse.

For that is the perfite ioy & al maner of comfort we haue in God, when no man is puffed vp by reason of his owne righte∣ousnesse, but acknowledgeth himselfe to be destitute of true iu∣stice in deed, and seeketh to be iustified by sole faith in Christ.

Origen writeth in this maner; Dicit sufficere solius fidei iu∣stificationem, ita vt credens quis tantummodo iustificetur,* 1.10 etiamsi nihil ab eo operis fuerit expletum.

He saith, that the iustification of sole faith is sufficient, so as a man may be iustified, if he only beleeue, although hee doe no workes at all. And the same Origen prooueth in the same place, by a long and learned discourse; that wee are iustified by sole faith, and not by workes.

S. Austen is plaine in this point, who writeth in this maner, Opus autem fidei ipsa dilectio est: And charitie it selfe is the worke of faith. What plainer testimonie can be had? what pa∣pist can inuent any solution for the same? who but mad men will not yeeld thereunto? August. in Epist. Ioann. tract. 10. in initio.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The true mea∣ning of this sen∣tence, sole faith doth iustifie.
• * 1.2

  ••om. 4. v. ••.••.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 4. v. 3.
• * 1.4

  Rom. 3. v. 28.
• * 1.5

  Ambros. in 3. cap. ad Rom. paulo ante finem. cap. 4. cap. 9. ad Rom, ••
• * 1.6

  Chrysost. hom. 1•• ad Rom. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 med.
• * 1.7

  Chrysost. hom. 5. ad Ephes,
• * 1.8

  Hilarius in Ma••••▪ Can. 8.
• * 1.9

  Basiliu•• de hu•••• tom. 1.
• * 1.10

  Orig. ad Rom. cap. 3. non proc. a fine.