The harmonie of Holie Scriptures vvith the seuerall sentences of sundry learned and vvorthy vvriters : collected for the comfort of all such as are desirous to seeke after theyr soules health / by I.B.

§. 15.

Wee must not yet heere thinke, that the sayings of the two Apostles, S. Paule and S. Iames, are contrary one to the other; where as Paule saith; A man is iustified without workes. And Iames saith; Fayth without workes is vai••e. For, Paule spea∣keth of the workes that goe before fayth,

and Iames speaketh of the vvorkes vvhich follovve after fayth.

Our Religion likewise, doth not discerne the righteous from the vnrighteous, by the lawe of workes, but by the lawe of faith; vvithout the which, euen those works that seeme good, are turned into sinnes.

For, vvhatsoeuer is not of fayth, is sinne.

And, where faith is not, good vvorkes is not. The intent [indeede] maketh a good worke; but fayth directeth that intent.

Besides; good workes make no man to be accounted iust, or righteous in the sight of God: but a man being once iustified by faith; doth good workes through loue.

Also,] in Iesus Christ, neither Circum∣cision auaileth any thing; neither vncir∣cumcision: but fayth, which worketh by loue.

For, like as the goodnesse of a Tree, is alwayes knowne by the good fruite which it bringeth foorth: euen so the fayth of a godly man, is euermore declared vnto the world; by his religious obedience towards the law of GOD; and his workes of cha∣ritie towards his neighbour.

VVee are iustified [therfore] by that liuely fayth, which doth apprehend all the

mercifull promises of God▪ made towards vs in Iesus Christ.

VVhich fayth, neyther sleepeth nor is idle; but alwayes awaketh: and is conti∣nually busied, about the performing of some good worke.

Resting fully perswaded, that good vvorkes are the vvay to the kingdome of heauen; though they be not the cause of raigning there.

Notes

• Augustine.
• Augustine.
• Rom, 14, 23
• Augustine.
• Gala, 5, 6.
• Luther.
• Beza.
• Beza.
• Bernard.