A catechism and confession of faith approved of and agreed unto by the general assembly of the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, Christ himself being chief speaker in and among them : which containeth a true and faithful account of the principles and doctrines which are most surely believed by the churches of Christ in Great Brittain and Ireland who are reproachfully called by the name of Quakers ... : to which is added An expostulation with and appeal to all other professors / by R.B.

CHAP. VI. (Book 6)

Concerning Faith, Justification, and VVorks.

Question, VVHat is Faith?

A. Faith is the Substance of things hoped for, and the Evidence of things not seen, Heb. 11. 1.

Q. Is Faith of absolute Necessity?

A. Without Faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him, Heb. 11. 6.

Q. Are we justified by Faith?

A. Wherefore the Law was our School-Master to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by Faith, Gal. 3. 24.

Q. What is the Nature of this Faith that availeth to Justification?

A. For in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision availeth any thing, nor Uncircumcision; but Faith which worketh by Love, Gal. 5. 6.

Q. Are Works then necessary to Justification as well as Faith?

A. But wilt thou know, O Vain Man, that Faith without Works is dead? Was not A∣braham, our Father, justified by Works when he had offered Isaac, his Son, upon the Altar? Seest thou how Faith wrought with his Works; and by Works was Faith made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abra∣ham believed God, and it was imputed to him for Righteousness: He was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by Works a man is justified, & not by Faith only, Jam. 2. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.

Q. If then both be equally required in Justi∣fication, what are these ••orks which the Apostle excludes so much?

A. By the Deeds of the Law there shall no Flesh be justified in his Sight, Rom. 3. 20.

Q. But though we be not justified by the Deeds of the Law, is not th••s to exclude Boasting, that the Grace of God may by exalted?

A. For by Grace are ye saved, through Faith, and that not of your selves, it is the Gift of God; not of Works, left any man should boast; for we are his VVork manship cre∣ated in Christ Jesus unto good Works, Eph. 2. 8, 9, 10.

Q. Are even the Works which are performed by Grace excluded? are we never said to be sa∣ved or justified by them?

A. Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done, but according to his Mercy he saved us by the Washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Saviour; That being justified by his Grace we should be made Heirs, according to the Hope of Eternal Life, Tit. 3. 5, 6, 7.

Q. I perceive then that to be justified by Grace, is to be justified or saved by Regeneration, which cannot exclude the Works wrought by Grace and by the Spirit; How doth the Apo∣stle add in the next Verse for the maintain∣ing this against these that Cavil about the Law?

A. This is a Faithful Saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which believed in God might be careful to maintain good VVorks; these things are good and profitable unto men: But avoid Foolish Questions, and Genealogies, and Contentions, and Strivings about the Law; for they are unprofitable and vain, Tit. 3. 8, 9.

Q. Doth the Apostle Paul, that is so much against justification by the Works of the Law, speak any where else of being justified by the Spirit?

A. But ye are washed, but ye are sanctifi∣ed;

but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God, 1 Cor. 6. 11.

Q. But since the Law gives not Power nor Ability to obey, and so falls short of Justification; Is there no Power under the Gospel by which the Righteousness of the Law comes to be fulfilled inwardly?

A. For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the Flesh, God sending his own Son in the Likeness of sinful Flesh, and for Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh; that the Righteousness of the Law might be ful∣filled in us, who walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit, Rom. 8. 3, 4.

Q. Seeing th••n there is Power in the Spirit, is not Works through it a Condition upon which Life is proposed under the New Covenant?

A. For if ye live after the Flesh, ye shall dye; but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Body, ye shall live, Rom. 8. 13.

Q. Do not the Apostles then frequently pro∣pose Life to People upon Condition of Repentance and other Works?

A. Repent ye therefore, and be conver∣ted, that your Sins may be blotted out, Acts 3. 19,

And if Children, then Heirs of God and joynt

Heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we also may be glorified toge∣ther, Rom. 8. 17.

It is a faithful Saying; For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a Vessel unto Honour, sanctified and meet for the Master's Use, and prepared unto every good Work, 2 Tim. 2. 11, 12, 21.

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and Repent, and do the first Works: or else, I will come unto thee quickly, and re∣move thy Candle stick out of his place, except thou Repent, Rev. 2. 5.

Q. It appears clearly by these Passages, that the Apostle excludes only our Righteousness, which he elsewhere explains as being the Righteousness of the Law from being necessary to Justificati∣on, and not such Works as the Law of the Spirit of Life leads to, and are not so much ours as Christ in us; are not such good Works rewarded, though they require no absolute Merit, as being the Fruits of free Grace, yet doth not God judge according to them? and may they not be said to have a Reward?

A. But if a man be Just, and do that which is Lawful and Right, and hath not eaten upon

the Mountains, neither hath lift up his Eyes to the Idols of the House of Israel, neither has de∣filed his Neighbour's Wife, neither hath come near to a Menstruous Woman, and hath not oppressed any; but has restor'd to the Debtor his Pledge, hath spoiled none by Violence, hath given his Bread to the Hungry, and hath covered the Naked with a Garment; he that hath not given forth upon Usury, neither hath taken any Increase, that hath with drawn his Hand from Iniquity, hath executed True Judgment between man and ma••, hath walk∣ed in my Statutes, and hath kept my Judg∣ments to Deal Truly, he is just, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 surely Live, saith the Lord God, Ezek. 18. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

For the Son of Man shall come in the Glo∣ry of his Father with his Angels, and then he shall Reward every Man according to his Works, Mat. 16. 27.

Then Peter opened his Mouth, and said, Of a Truth I perceive that God is no Respe∣cter of Persons; but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness, is ac∣cepted with him, Acts 10. 34, 35.

The Righteous Judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his Deeds; To them who by Patient Continu∣ance in Well-doing seek for Glory and Ho∣nour,

and Immortality, Eternal Life? But Glory, Honour and Peace to every man that worketh Good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile, Rom. 2. 6, 7, 10.

For we must all appear before the Judg∣ment-Seat of Christ, that every one may re∣ceive the things done in his Body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad, 2 Cor. 5. 10.

VVhich is a manifest Token of the Righ∣teous Judgment of God, that ye may be coun∣ted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer, 3 Thes. 1. 5.

But who so looketh into the Perfect Law of Liberty, and continueth therein, he be∣ing not a forgetful Hearer, but a Doer of the Work, this man shall be blessed in his Deed, James 1. 25.

Cast not away therefore your Confidence, which hath great Recompence of Reward, Hebr. 10. 35.

And if ye call on the Father, who without Respect of Persons judgeth according to e∣very man's Work, pass the time of your so∣journing here in Fear, 1 P••t. 1. 17.

And behold I come quickly, and behold my Reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Blessed are they that do his Commandments, that they may

have a Right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the Gates into the City, Rev. 22. 12, 14.

Q. It should seem that the Purpose of God in sending his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, was not simply to save Man by an Imputative Righ∣teousness altogether without them; but also by the Washing of Regeneration, or any inward Righteousness: What saith the Scripture fur∣ther of this?

A. And thou shalt call his Name Jesus; for he shall save his People from their Sins, Mat. 1. 21.

Looking for that Blessed Hope, and the Glorious Appearing of the Great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all Ini∣quity, and purifie unto himself a peculiar People, zealous of Good Works, Tit. 2. 13, 14.