A godlye and learned treatise wherein is proued the true iustificacion of a Christian manne to come frely of the mercy of god in Christ, without the deseruyng of man by his merites: and also how good workes oughte to bee done [and] what be true good works in dede. Whereunto is ioyned a co[n]ference betwene the law and the gospel, very profitable for al men to exercise themselues therin.

The authors intent and pur¦pose in thys matter of iustificacyon. (Book 1)

The. 1. Chapter. (Book 1)

PUrposing playnly & brefe∣ly to speake of the true iu∣stifying of a Christian mā, and aswell of vpright true good workes, as the maner and fourme therof: I mynde not to tell what disputaciōs mē haue had of the same, but what God (who cannot lye) hath vttered & spoken therof in his worde. This matter of iustificacion I thought to serue my turne: First beecause that Iohn the Apostle and Euā∣gelist, whom I now haue in hād doth in maner treate wholy ther¦of. Upon whom I was perswa∣ded to make the better declaraci∣on,

if I aforehande out of all the scripture set a short Summe of iu¦stificacion and of good workes. Secondly, beecause that in oure fayth and religion there is no∣thyng, wherof we may be igno∣rante with greater hurte, or that with greater profit may be kno∣wen, perceaued and vnderstand, then euen the maner of iustificaci¦on and of good workes. For iusti¦ficacion is the surest ground and establishment of our life & well∣fare.

Thirdly, because this matter (beyng els playne and euydent) is now in our dayes, thorow the many folde darke mystes▪ of con∣tencious men, vtterly confused & cleane tossed out of order. For, cō¦cerning iustificacion, diuerse and sondrye men haue straunge and nyce opinions. Some saye styl, that the faythfull are iustifyed

thorowe the onelye belefe in the Lorde Iesus Christ, whiche is a trueth in dede.

Other there be, that refuse & condemne thys as an erroneous opynyon, but with great arrogā∣cye ascribe their iustificacyon vn¦to mens works. Some referre iu¦stificacion to faith and workes a lyke. And some there be, that vn∣to fayth ascrybe the begynnynge of iustificacion, and the finishīge or perfourmaunce thereof vnto workes. Yet haue I not recyted the myndes and opinions of all. But forasmuche as there is such contencion among the learned, the peoples consciences are ther∣by vexed, troubled and sore tēp∣ted.

Wherefore to establishe the Christian verite, and for an intro¦duction into the holy and godlye gospell of Iohn: I mynde to col∣leete

& gather together a shorte Summe of the iustificacion of a Christyan manne, and concer∣nyng good workes. Nether will I here bring forth eny thinge at all, which I do not declare and proue wyth sensible playne testi∣monies of gods scripture: yea and as touchinge iustificacion and good workes, I wil collecte & conferre together nothing els, but the most euident witnesses of the scripture. So that without the order and homelie vnpainted oracion, ther shalbe nothig mine: nether wil I compte any thinge mine own but trye & proue al∣together by gods word. And doutles in the most waigh¦tie maters of our Reli¦gion, we ought e∣uen so to vse our selfes.