wee are not justified by them, nor saved for them: yet they are the evi∣dence, according to which our Saviour will pronounce the sentence of salvation Matth. 25. 34, 35. According to that Psal. 62. 12. And to thee Lord, mercie, for thou rewardest a man (meaning the godly man) accor∣ding to his workes.
§. IX. Lastly, they are necessary necessitate medij, and as that, which though it be no cause, is called causa sine qua n•…•…n. And thus they are ne∣cessary, first, as the way, which leadeth to life eternall, via qua nos perdu∣cturus est ad finem itsum quem promisit, the way by which hee will bring us unto that end which he hath promised, saith Augustine. For those that are justified, and by justification entituled to the Kingdome of hea∣ven, they are to goe in the way of sanctification towards their glorifica∣tion, E•…•…h. 2. 10. good workes therefore though they bee not the cause of raigning yet they are the way to the Kingdome. And so saith Bellar∣min•…•… himsel•…•…e, that although God in predestination hath determined to give the Kingdome of heaven to certaine men whom he loved with∣out any prevision of workes: notwithstanding hee did withall ordaine that in respect of the execution, the way to come to his Kingdome, should be good workes. I say then with the Prophet Esay, this is the way let us walke in it. Secondly, as necessary fruits of our election, for wee are elected to that end that we should bee holy, Ephes. 1. 4. as neces∣sary fruits of faith, without which it is judged to bee dead, •…•…am. 2. 26. as unseparable consequents of our redemption and justification, Luk. 1. 74. And as they are necessary consequents of our justification, so they are necessary forerunners of salvation, by which wee are fitted for Gods Kingdome, because no uncleane thing can enter into the Kingdome of heaven, Apoc. 21. 27. and finally so necessary is a godly life, that with∣out it no man shall see God. Heb. 12. 14. I conclude with Bernard, that good workes are occulia predestinationis jndicia, futur•…•… f•…•…licitatis presagia, via regni, non ca•…•…saregnandi, tokens of our secret predestination, presages of our future happinesse, the way to the Kingdome, but not the cause of our obtaining that Kingdome. For howsoever good workes are neces∣sary in many respects, as I have shewed, necessitate presentiae; yet they are not necessary necessitate efficientiae, as causes of our justification.
§. X. Secondly, the Papists calumniate us, as if wee taught that good workes are not necessary to sanctification, which slander, as all the rest, ariseth from their willfull and pernicious errour in consounding justific•…•…tion and sanctification. In the question of justification we hold, according to the Scriptures, that if our owne workes or righteousnesse should bee obtruded unto the Lord as the matter or merit thereof, whereby wee should bee both acquitted from our sinnes and so delive∣red from hell and also entituled to the Kingdome of heaven, they are not onely to bee rejected, but also detested as menstruous clouts, as dung, as losse. But in the question of sanctification, where they are considered, both as fruits of faith and the Spirit, as consequents of justi∣fication, whereby wee testifie our thankefulnesse to God, gather testi∣monies to our selves of our justification, benefit and edifie our brethren•…•…