Certaine briefe Notes or declarations vp∣on the foresayd places of M. Patrike.
THis litle treatise of M. Patricks places,* 1.1 albeit in quantitie it be but short, yet in effecte it comprehendeth matter able to fill large volumes, declaring to vs the true doctrine of the lawe, of the Gospel, of faith, and of works, with the nature and properties, & also the difference of the same.* 1.2 Which difference is thus to be vn∣derstanded, that in the cause of saluation, and in the office of iusti∣fying, these are to be remooued and separated a sonder, the lawe from the Gospel, and faith from workes: Otherwise in the person that is iustified, and also in order of doctrine, they ought cōmon∣ly to goe necessarily together.
Therfore, where soeuer any question or doubt riseth of salua∣tion, or our iustifying before God, there the law, & al good works must be vtterly excluded, and stand apart,* 1.3 that grace may appeare free, the promise simple, and that faith may stād alone. Which faith alone, without law or workes, worketh to euery man particular∣ly his saluation, through mere promise, and the free grace of God. This worde (particularly) I adde,* 1.4 for the particulare certifying of euery mans hart priuately and peculiarly, that beleueth in Christ. For as the body of Christ is the cause efficient of the redemption of the whole world in generall: so is faith the instrumentall cause,* 1.5 by which euery man applieth the sayde body of Christ particular∣ly to his owne saluation. So that in the action and office of iusti∣fication, both law & workes here be vtterly secluded and exemp∣ted, as things hauing nothing to doe in this behalfe. The reason is this: for seing that all our redemption vniuersally springeth only frō the body of the sonne of God crucified, then is there nothing, that can stande vs in steade, but that onely, wherewith thys bodye of Christ is apprehended. Now, for somuch as neither the law nor works, but faith onely is the thing which apprehendeth the body and death of Christ,* 1.6 therfore faith onely is that matter which iusti∣fieth euery soule before God, thorough the strength of that obiect which it doth apprehend. For the obiect onely of our faith, is the body of Christ, like as the brasen Serpent was the obiecte onely of the Israelites looking, and not of their handes working: by the strength of which obiect, through the promise of God, immediat∣ly proceeded health to the beholders. So the body of Christ being the obiecte of our faithe, striketh righteousnesse to our soules, not through working, but beleuing onely.
Thus you see, howe faith being the onely eye of our soule,* 1.7 standeth alone with her obiecte, in case of iustifying: but yet ne∣uerthelesse, in the body she standeth not alone: for besides the eye, there be also handes to worke, feete to walke, eares to heare, and other members moe, euery one conuenient for the seruyce of the body, and yet there is none of them all that can see, but onely the eye. So in a christian mans life, and in order of doctrine, ther is the law, there is repentance, there is hope, charitie, and dedes of cha∣ritie: all which in life, and in doctrine, are ioyned, & necessarily do concurre together, and yet in the action of iustifying, there is nothing els in man, that hath any parte or place, but onely Fayth apprehending the obiect which is the body of Christ Iesus for vs