Synopsis papismi, that is, A generall viewe of papistry wherein the whole mysterie of iniquitie, and summe of antichristian doctrine is set downe, which is maintained this day by the Synagogue of Rome, against the Church of Christ, together with an antithesis of the true Christian faith, and an antidotum or counterpoyson out of the Scriptures, against the whore of Babylons filthy cuppe of abominations: deuided into three bookes or centuries, that is, so many hundreds of popish heresies and errors. Collected by Andrew Willet Bachelor of Diuinity.

THE THIRD PART, WHE∣ther charitie be the forme of iusti∣fying faith.

The Papists.

IT is so affirmed by our Rhemistes, Iam. 2. sect. 11. Faith being formed, [error 80] and made aliue by charitie, iustifieth. Loue is not as the instrument where∣by faith worketh, but as the proper forme, Tapper. ex Tileman. Heshus. de fide err. 7.

Argum. Saint Iames saith, As the bodie without the spirite is dead, so faith without workes is dead, 2.26. But the soule or spirite giueth the forme and life to the bodie. Ergo, so doe the workes of charitie to faith, Rhemist.

The Protestants.

Ans. WE must consider of what kinde of faith Saint Iames speaketh: not of a liuely or iustifying faith, but of a dead faith, which in deede is no faith, neither can possiblie receiue any life or quickening, to bee made a true and right faith. The words then are thus to be read, and distinguished: So faith without works is dead: that is, this kinde of faith, which neither wor∣keth, nor euer shall: Not thus, Faith is dead without workes: as though a true faith were quickened by works. But euen as the bodie is dead, hauing neither soule, nor the operations thereof, life, motion, sense: so this vaine speculatiue kinde of faith is dead, both wanting the spirite and soule, that is, hauing not one sparke of true faith, neither the operations and fruites thereof, which a liuely faith sheweth by loue, as the soule worketh life and motion in the bo∣die: for a liuely faith can neuer bee without workes: And a dead faith will neuer haue workes, but remaineth dead for euer.

Wee must not therefore thinke, that it is one and the same faith, which sometime is dead without workes, and againe is made aliue and quickened, when workes come: But wee must vnderstand two kindes of faith: one al∣together voide of good workes, which is onely a faith in name, and a verie dead faith. Another is a liuelie faith, alwaies working: and this can ne∣uer become a dead faith, so neither can the other bee euer made a liuelie faith.

Argum. That charitie is not the forme or any cause of faith, but the effect rather and fruite thereof, we doe learne out of the word of God: Christ saith, Iohn 3.18. Hee that beleeueth, shall not bee condemned, but is alreadie pas∣sed from death to life, Iohn. 5.24. Faith then is able to saue vs, and alone iustifieth vs before God without loue (which alwaies foloweth a true faith▪ but is not ioyned, or made a partner with it in the matter of iustification) But faith could doe nothing without the forme thereof: Ergo, charitie is not the forme of faith. Saint Paul also faith: Faith which worketh by loue, Galath. 5.6. The being and substance of faith is one thing, the working another: Loue onely concurreth with faith in the working, it is no part of the essence or be∣ing of faith.

* 1.1August. Ea sola bona opera dicenda sunt, quae fiunt per dilectionem, haec ne∣cesse est, antecedat fides, vt inde ista, non ab istis incipiat illa: Those onely are to bee counted good workes, which are wrought by loue: faith of necessitie must goe before: for they must take their beginning from faith, and not faith from them. Faith then goeth before loue that worketh, therefore loue is not the forme of faith: for forma prior est re formata, the forme should goe before the thing formed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In Psal. 67.