Rhemes against Rome: or, The remoouing of the gagg of the new Gospell, and rightly placing it in the mouthes of the Romists, by the Rhemists in their English translation of the Scriptures. Which counter-gagg is heere fitted by the industrious hand of Richard Bernard ...

The places cited by the Gagger.

Matth. 5. 20. Except your righteousnesse exceede the righteous∣nesse of the Scribes and Pharises, &c.

Answ. This place is not to the purpose: for here is no menti∣on of faith, nor of iustification by faith: but here is one righte∣ousnesse preferred before another: That of the Scribes and Pha∣rises bringeth not to Heauen: for it was legall, sought by workes, and to establish their owne righteousnesse, being igno∣rant of the righteousnesse of God, Rom. 10. 3. which is Euange∣licall,

sought by faith, and inherent in Christ, in all fulnesse of perfection, which exceeded the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharises.

Mat. 7. 21, 22. Not euery one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, &c.

Answ. This is nothing neither to proue the point. This is against idle and vaine professors of Christ, that haue not the faith that iustifieth, Matth. 11. 26. Yea, O Father, for so it was thy good pleasure. This is foolishly quoted, Matth. 12. 33. Is of a fruitfull, and fruitlesse tree, Matth. 16. 16. Thou art Christ, the Sonne of the liuing God: Peters profession of his faith. The ve∣ry naming of these, sheweth the vanity of this Gaggers citing of Scriptures.

Matth. 19. 17. If thou wilt enter into life, keepe the Commande∣ments.

Answ. 1. This is nothing against iustification by faith onely; which faith is neuer without obedience to Gods commande∣ments. 2. Christ speakes not of that which the young man was able to doe; but he seeking righteousnesse by the Law, Christ answered him thereafter legally, intending to discouer to him his rashnesse and pride, as the euent sheweth: For the young man was couetous, and loued his riches on earth, more then treasure in heauen, verse 21, 22.

Gal. 3. 12. But the Law is not of faith, but the man that doth them, shall liue in them.

Answ. The whole course of the context is for iustification by faith, and against iustification by works. The eighth vers. speaks of the iustification of the Gentiles through faith. The ninth verse saith, that they that be of faith, are blessed with faithfull Abraham. The tenth verse pronounceth them that are of the deeds of the Law, accursed. The 11. verse confidently auerreth, that no man is iustified by the Law, in the sight of God, and gi∣ueth the reason: for the iust shall liue by faith. In verse 12. is an argument to refell confidence in workes: For the Law, saith he, is not of faith. So as, if we liue by faith, wee cannot liue by the Law; for it propounds life to the doers, but not to belee∣uers, as the Gospell doth.

1. Tim. 5. 8. If any prouide not for his owne, &c.

Hath not he an idle braine, is not he worthy to be gagged for a lewd babbler, that will alledge this Scripture against iustifica∣tion by faith onely, when we speake of a holy, liuely, and obe∣dient faith?

1. Ioh. 2. 4. He that saith he knowes him, and keepes not his com∣mandements, &c. 1. Ioh. 3. 22. Whatsoeuer we shall aske,—because we keepe his commandements, and doe those things, which are plea∣sing in his sight.

Answ. The first place condemneth knowledge without pra∣ctice. So doe we, and such a faith too. The second is an effect of that good confidence in God, spoken of in verse 21. describing such as haue such boldnesse towards God, by the true signes and fruits of faith; to which he exhorts in verse 23. saying, that it is a commandement of God, that we should beleeue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ.

Rom. 3. 31. Doe we destroy the Law by faith? God forbid: but we rather maintaine the Law.

Answ. The whole Chapter is against iustification by workes, and for faith, and euen in this very verse. For what meane these words? but to shew, that faith by which wee are iustified, doth fulfill the Law; so as what men would obtaine by the workes of the Law, the same they haue by faith in Christ, who hath for vs perfectly fulfilled the Law. So the Law is not de∣stroyed, but by faith established.

Phil. 2. 12. Worke out your saluation with feare and trembling.

Answ. What meaneth this babbling Babylonian hereby? Will he conclude, that he, which is to worke out his saluation with feare and trembling, is not iustified by faith onely? Iustify∣ing faith maketh none presumptuous. It makes a man put on the Armour of God. It so maketh vs confident in God, as withall, neuer to neglect any good meanes in the way to saluation. It maketh vs not high-minded, but to feare, and to tremble, and so to worke out our owne saluation, which euer accompanyeth our iustification.