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 FOVRTH PART, OF IVSTIFI∣cation onely by fayth.

The Papists.

[error 94] FAyth is not the only cause of our iustificatiō, but there are other also, as hope, charitie, almes deedes, and other vertues: Rhemist. Roman. 8. sect. 6. Yea, workes are more principall then fayth, in the matter of iustification, Iam. 2. sect. 7. Whosoeuer therefore sayth, that a man is iustified onely by fayth, and that nothing els is required to iustification, we pronounce him accursed, Trident. Concil. sess. 6. can. 9.

Argum. 1. Rom. 8.24. We are saued by hope: Ergo, not onely by fayth, Rhemist.

Answ. 1. We are sayd to be saued by hope, not because wee are thereby iustified, but because by hope we do expect and waite for our saluation, which is not yet accomplished: as it followeth, vers. 25. If wee hope for that wee see not, then doe we with patience abide for it.

Argum. 2. Galath. 5.6. Fayth, that worketh by charitie. Fayth then hath her whole actiuitie and operation toward saluation of charitie: It doth not therefore iustifie vs alone, but fayth and charitie together, of the which chari∣tie is the more principall, Rhemist. ibid.

Answ. We graunt, that it is a working fayth that doth iustifie, as the A∣postle here sayth: but not as it worketh, but as it apprehendeth and beleeueth. Charitie is a principall effect of fayth, and followeth it: how then can fayth re∣ceiue actiuitie from charitie? the effect doth not giue life to the cause. You know Augustine often sayth,

Opera non praecedunt iustificandum, sed sequuntur iustifi∣catum: Workes goe not before vnto iustification, but followe in him that is already iustified.

But if charitie should beget fayth, then workes proceeding of charitie, should goe before fayth by the which wee are iustified. The Apostle sayth, Without fayth it is impossible to please God, Hebr. 11.6. Ergo, neither doth charitie please God without fayth: Fayth giueth actiuitie to charitie; how then can it receiue that which it giueth?

Argum. 3. Iam. 2.24. We see how that of deedes a man is iustified, and not of fayth onely: Ergo, we are not iustified by fayth onely, Rhemist.

Answ. Saint Iames is not contrary to his fellow Apostle Saint Paul, who concludeth, Rom. 3.28. that We are iustified by fayth without workes: that is as much to say, as by fayth onely. And he excludeth not onely workes of na∣ture, or of the law: but euen workes of grace, which God hath ordayned, E∣phes. 2.10. Therefore S. Iames, in saying we are not iustified by faith onely, mea∣neth not that iustification, whereby we are made iust before God: for then he should impugne Saint Pauls principles. But by iustifiyng, or being iustified, he vnderstandeth nothing els but to be declared iust, as well before men as in the

sight of God: which declaration is testified and shewed forth by our workes proceeding of faith. Thus the word iustified is taken, Rom. 3.4. That thou maist be iustified in thy words: that is, knowne or declared to be iust. Augustine also sayth, Iustificabuntur, id est, iusti habebuntur: They shall be iustified, that is,* 1.1 coun∣ted iust: as we also say, Sanctificetur nomen, id est, sanctum habeatur: Let thy name bee sanctified, that is, reputed and acknowledged to be holy amongst men.

The Protestants.

WE are not enemies to good workes (as our aduersaries falsely charge vs:) nay we preach good workes, we exhort to good workes, we establish good workes, teaching the right vse of them out of the word of God: which is not to concurre, or be ioyned with faith in our iustification, but to follow neces∣sarily and issue out of faith, as liuely testimonies thereof, to the glorie of God, the example of others, and our comfort: but faith it is onely, which, as a liuely instrument ordained of God, doth assure vs of our iustification by grace in Christ.

Argum. 1. Saluation is ascribed onely to beleefe, Mark. 16.16. Act. 16.31. But it is the propertie of faith onely to beleeue, not of hope or charitie: the ef∣fect of hope is by patience to abide, Rom. 8.25. The operations also of loue are set forth, 1. Corinth. 13. Where amongst other, Loue is sayd to beleeue all things: that is, mutuall loue amongst men is not mistrustfull, but taketh all things in good part: but to beleeue the things of God, it is the propertie onely of faith: as Augustine vpon those words of the Apostle, How shall they call vpon him▪ on whom they haue not beleeued? In his duobus tria illa intuere: fides credit, spes & charitas orant: In these two behold those three: faith beleeueth,* 1.2 hope and cha∣ritie pray. Faith therefore onely beleeueth, and so consequently onely iustifieth, Enchirid. cap. 7.

Argum. 2. Our iustification and saluation is of the meere grace and mercie of God, not at al of any merite or desert in vs: Ergo, we are iustified only through faith: for it is of grace that we are saued through faith, Ephes. 2.8. That all is to bee ascribed onely to the mercie and grace of God, the Apostle euery where sheweth: Rom. 9.12. It is not in him that willeth or runneth, but in God that sheweth mercie. We are iustified freely by grace, Rom. 3.24. What hast thou that thou hast not receiued? Augustine saith, Intelligenda est gratia Dei per Iesum Christum dominum nostrum, qua sola liberamur à malo:* 1.3 We must vnderstand the grace of God by Iesus Christ, by the which we are onely deliuered from euill. Si quid boni est, magni, vel parui, donum tuum est, nostrum non est nisi malum: si quid boni vnquam habui, à te recepi: If there bee any good in vs, much or little, it is thy gift: nothing is ours but the euill in vs: Ergo, all good things are of God, and onely of his grace: and therefore our iustification.

Argum. 3. There are many euident places, which doe attribute our iustifica∣tion to faith without workes, Rom. 3.28.11.8. Ephes. 2.8.9. In all these places

in plaine termes, We are sayd to bee iustified by faith without workes. As for those friuolous euasions, that the Apostle speaketh of the first iustification, not of the second, or of the workes of nature, or of the lawe, not of grace, we haue an∣swered before, Quaest. 2. part. 3. artic. 3.

If they will oppose that saying of S. Iames. 2.24. we answere with Augu∣stine:* 1.4 Nec Apostoli sunt inter se aduersi: ille dicit, Abrahae opus omnibus notum in filij immolatione: magnum opus, sed ex fide: laudo fructum boni operis, sed in fide agnosco radicem: The Apostles are not contrarie one to the other: he sayth, A∣brahams worke was knowne to all in offering vp his sonne: a great worke, but of faith: I praise the fruite, but it was rooted in faith. His meaning then is this, that Abraham was iustified, that is, declared to men to be iust by this worke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  De spiritu & lite•••• 26
• * 1.2

  Enchirid. cap. 7.
• * 1.3

  De corrept. & grat. c. 2.
• * 1.4

  In Psal. 31.