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WHerfore now come we a∣gayne to good workes, which yf they proceade not out of god by faith, they maye not be named good.
But yf they spring out of god thorow faith, then are thei ordred acording to ye rule of gods word. In ye descripcion therfore of good workes, I haue added therto and sayde, that, they are done by such as are regenerate, out of the good sprete of god, and acordinge to gods worde. For the workes that we ymagen of ourselues, they please not god. For he alloweth obedience: As for the good mea∣nyng and intent that groweth in us, he refuseth it. Which thinge I affirme and proute wih these testimonies of scripture: In Deu¦teronomye the lord commaūdeth euidētli with these words: ye shal not do, euery one that which he thinketh good. What so euer I commaunde you, that loke ye ob∣serue, to do therafter: Adde no∣thinge thereto, nether myny she aught there frō. Moreouer in the
storie of Samuel there standeth an ensample herof. For Saul the king of Israel, being cōmaunded to make a slayne offeringe of the Amalechites & al their substaūce, dyd, of a good intent & self chosen gods seruyce, reserue the fatteste oxen for a sacrifice vnto god. But the prophet Samuel saieth vnto him: hath the lord as greate plea∣sure in brent sacryfices and offe∣ringes, as whan the voyce of the * 1.1 lorde is obeyed? Behold, to obeye is better then sacrifice: & to herkē, is better thē the fatte of rammes. For rebellyon is as the synne of witchcraft, and stubburnes is as the wickednes of ydolatrie.
Here in these few wordes thou hast a godly cōmendacion of self chosen relygion or gods seruice, and of workes that spring of our owne good meanynges and good intēntes. They, that despisynge &
refusing the lawe of god folowe their owne good intētes, are of ye trueth called witches, rebelles & ydolatoures. Although thei think them selues to be gods good ser∣uauntes, and feruent folowers of the tradicions of holye fathers, bishoppes, kynges and prynces: yet god, who can be no liar, saieth euidently, that the workes of such folkes doe nothyng dyffer from witchcraft, rebellion and ydola∣trie, which are the most horrible thinges, that cā be thought or de∣uysed. The lorde therfore in the gospel, out of the prophet Esay, condemneth and refuseth all such self chosen works, as proceade out of our owne good meanynges & intentes, whā he saieth: in vayne serue thei me, while thei teach the doctrynes & preceptes of mē. E∣uery plantyng, which my heauēly father hath not planted, shall be
rooted out. Let thē go, blynd thei are, & ye leaders of ye blynd. Here of came it no doubte, ye G. Paule so boldly & stowtly said, ye the cō∣maundmentes & statutes of men are not ōly cōtrarie to the trueth, but also very lyes. In another place he saieth: What so euer is not of faith, is synne. And agayn: Faith cōmeth of hearyng, & hea∣ring cōmeth by the word of god. Wherby it maie wel be gathered, yt the workes, which are not done out ye worde thorow faith, are so very naught, yt thei be also called sinne. To the Colossiās doth Paul most euidentlye reiecte the selfe pleasing gods seruice, ethelothres¦chian, which is expounded a su∣persticiō, & signifieth a self willed & selfchosē religiō & gods seruice.
Wherfore out of all this it is playne, that we do not reiecte nor withstand vpright good workes,
whan we refuse the workes of monckes, freres & popish priests, whiche proceade of the election and good intent of man, without gods worde. For now is it more certayne, that they of a trueth are not good workes, which we yma∣gen of our selues, but onelye such as god hath commaunded vs. Which thing is yet more euident out of the wordes of S. Paul: We are created (saieth he) tho∣row Ihesus Christ, vnto good workes, to the which god ordey∣ned * 1.2 vs before, yt we shulde walke in thē. Here setteth he two marks or euident tokēs of good workes. The first: we are created thorow Christ Iesus vnto good workes. A good worke then must be done by such one, as is created thorow Christ, or graffed in Christ Iesu. For yf the braunche abyd not in the vyne, it can not bring frute.
By faith are we graffed in to christ the vyne. The second: Thei must not be euery nor al maner of workes, but such as god ordeyned of olde, that we shulde walke ther in. What the same be, he hath ex∣pressed in his law, which is the wil of god. Herof is it, that the lorde in the gospel, beyng deman̄∣ded concernyng eternall life and true vertues, poynteth to the law and saieth: What is written in ye law? And, yf thou wilt entre in to life, kepe the commaundmentes. The ten cōmaundmentes then are the most sure and most perfecte fourme of good workes. Which thing, to the intent it maie be perfectly vn∣derstand, I will bre∣fely declare it all, as in a painted table.
1. Reg. 15.
Eph. 2.