Knowledge is in the vnderstanding: but this is in the will. Therefore a sure persuasion or confidence is not on∣ly a knoweledge of a thing: but also a will and purpose of doing or applieng that which wee knowe, or of resting in it, so that wee are thereby secure, and take ioie of heart therein.
8 Obiection. Saint Iames saith, cap. 2.24. Yee see then how that of workes a man is iustified, and not of faith onelie. Answere. 1. Hee speaketh of that iustice, whereby wee are iustified through our workes before men, that is, are approued iust, or are found to be iustified: but he speaketh not of that iu∣stice whereby we are iustified before God, that is, whereby wee are reputed of God iust for vniust. For hee saith in the same chapter: Shew me thy faith by thy works, and J will shewe thee my faith by my woorkes. 2. He speaketh not of a true or liuely faith, but of a dead faith, which is without works.
9 Obiection. Euil workes condemne. Therefore good workes iustifie. Ans. 1. These contraries are not matches: for our e∣uil works are perfectly euil; our good workes, are imperfe∣ctly good. 2. Although our good woorkes were perfectly good, yet should they not deserue eternal life, because they are debts. Vnto euil workes a reward is giuen by order of iustice: vnto good works not so, because we are obliged and bound to doe them. For the creature is obliged vnto his creator, neither may he of the contrary bind god vnto him by any works or means to benefit him.
10 Obiect. Saint Iohn saith 1. Ioh. 3.7. He that doth righte∣ousnes is righteous. Therefore not he that beleeueth. Ans. 1. He is righteous before mē, that is, by doing righteousnes, he de∣clareth himself righteous to others: but before god we are righteous, not by dooing righteousnes, but by beleeuing. 2. He sheweth there not how we are righteous, but what the righteous are, when he saith, that hee that is regenerated, is also iustified.
11 Obiection. Christ saith, Luk. 7.47. Many sinnes are forgi∣uen her: because she loued much. Therfore good works are the cause of iustification. Ans. 1. Christ here reasoneth from the latter to the former, from the effect which commeth after, to the cause which goeth before. Manie sins are forgiuen her: There∣fore shee loued much: and because there is a great feeling in