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¶ By fayth we are iustified: nat bicause fayth is a worke, qualitie, inuert in vs, but bicause it doth take holde of mercy: cleauinge faste to Christe: but to make it playne, you must turne this sayinge, by fayth we are iustified to his corrella∣tiue, that is to say. By the mercy of God
for Christ we are iust, but yet by faythe we must certyfy our selfes that the same mercy perteyneth vnto vs. And to the se∣conde part of this argument, called in la¦tin the minor, I grant it true. For fayth is a worke, as other vertues be workes as loue, pacience, chastitie, and lykewise as al other vertues be vnperfect: so faith also sometyme is weke and feble. Wher¦fore we are nat iust for the worthynes of the vertue fayth, as for a worke, but by∣cause it doth apprehend and receyue the mercy of God. It is necessary that there be some instrument and meane, whereby the mercy of God must be trusted after wherby Christ must be loked on wt the in¦warde eyes, wherby also we must cer∣tayne our selfes, that Christ wil forgiue vs. Therfore we must aunswere to the minor, that faith is a worke, for the whi¦che worke sake, being taken as a worke, we are nat iust, but bycause it doth take hold on the mercy of God. Therfore it doth nat folowe that for our workes we are iustified. It may also be aunswered that this argument is nat good, bicause there is more concluded in the consequēt or conclusion than is conteyned in the premises. For it maketh conclusion of iustification, wherof is no mētion made neyther in the fyrst nor seconde parte of
the argument, that is neyther in the ma¦ior nor in the minor.