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BEcause Faith alone with fixed eyes looks upon this Son and * 1.1 Mediator, and cleaves unto him, who only could bring about this Atchievement of our Redemption with the Father; therefore it is, that it alone hath this vertue and power of justifying, not with works, nor for works, but only for the sake of the Mediator, on whom it relies. Therefore that is false, and worthy to be rejected with disdain,
which some unhappy and wicked School-Di∣vines affirm in discoursing of Charity, to wit, that it is the form of Faith, and that it must not by any means be separated from faith, no more than the vital Soul can be separated from the body, or the essential form from matter, which otherwise is a rude and unweildy Mass. In an∣swering of whom, I think there is no need of many words, seeing the whole meaning and drift of Scripture, if rightly understood, the very end of the Law; seeing Christ, and the instruction of the Apostles, and the whole na∣ture of the Gospel seem to be manifestly a∣gainst them, and wholly to overturn that most absur'd Opinion by so many Oracles, so many Signs, Examples, and Arguments to the con∣trary. Now if that be form, which gives sub∣sistence to a thing, how much more truly must it be said, that faith is the form of charity, without which all the works of charity are base and contemptible; as again the form of faith is not charity, but Christ only, and the promise of the word.
But what, say they, are not the pious works of Charity acceptable * 1.2 to God, being so many ways pre∣scribed unto us, and commanded by him? Are not these also remunerated with plentiful fruits of Righteousness, and heaped up with manifold Rewards in the Gospel? I was hungry, says he, and ye fed me, I thirsted and ye refreshed me with drink; so that not so much as a cup of cold water shall want a reward, when it is given in the name of Christ, besides an infinite number
of other things of that kind, which being ta∣ken out of the Scriptures are enlarged upon to the praise of Charity.
Indeed no man denys that pious and holy works of Charity are * 1.3 greatly approved of God, and it is an undoubted truth, that the love of God and of our Neighbour, as it comprehends the Sum∣mary of both Tables, and is the greatest com∣plement of the whole Law, so it hath excel∣lent promises annexed unto it. Neither is there any Controversie between us about that. But when we affirm that Charity pleases God, we ask this, how it pleases, whether simply of it self in respect of the very work, or upon the account of faith, and the Mediatour? and then whether the same Charity so pleases, that it justi∣fies us before God, and obtains the pardon of sins, and overcomes the terrours of death and sin, that it may be opposed to the judgment and anger of God? Moreover, whether it hath the promises of Eternal Life annexed unto it? If without a Mediatour and the faith of him, there is nothing which can please God, and it is impossible that works should please him, be∣fore the person of him that worketh be recon∣ciled; it follows that Charity depends on Faith, and not Faith on Charity: But that it rather goes before Love, and is so far from being joyned with it for justification, that it also ju∣stifies Charity, and makes all the works of Charity acceptable to God. * 1.4 The matters appear more evident by Example. Suppose a Iew or
Turk does daily bestow great gifts upon the poor with very great cost, and damage to his estate: and again, that a Christian gives only a cup of cold Water to a thirsty man in the name of Christ: in the things themselves, if merits only be valued; there seems a very great dis∣proportion. But there is much greater inequality in the distributing the reward. Though a Turk bestows many thousands of Talents upon the poor, he gains not any thing at all thereby with God. A Christian by one Cup, not of Wine, but of cold Water loses not his reward, yea he finds Life. What is the cause? What should you think, O Osorius, but because those things are not valued by merits, but by faith: not by the condition of the work, but of the worker; not by the price of the thing, but by the dignity of the person.
What doth faith without works per∣form, and from whence doth it re∣ceive its effi∣cacy in act∣ing. The form of faith is not charity, but rather the form of cha∣rity is faith.
Objection.
Answer.
Confirma∣tion by Ex∣amples.