The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 2 · Catechism
12 Seeing then by the iuſt iudgement of God, we are ſubiect both to temporall, and eternall puniſhments; is there yet any meanes or way remaining, whereby we may be deliuered from theſe puniſhments, & be reconciled to God?
GOD will hauehave his iuſticeaExod. 20.5. & 23.7. ſatisfied: wherefore it is neceſſary thatbRom. 8.3. wee ſatisfy, either by our ſelues, or by another.
13 Are we able to ſatisfie by our ſelues?
Not a whit. Naie rather we doe euerie daycIob. 9.2.3. & 15.15. Mat. 6.12. increaſe our debt.
14 Is there any creature able in heauen or in earth, which is only a creature, to ſatisfie for vsus?
None. For firſt, God will notdHeb. 2.14. puniſh that ſin in any other creature, which man hath committed. And further, neither can that which is nothing but a creature, ſuſtaine the wrath of god againſt ſinne, andePſal. 130.3. Iob. 4.18. &. 25.5. deliuer others from it.
15 What manner of Mediatour then and deliuerer muſt wee ſeeke for?
Such a one verily, as is verie man, & perfectly iuſt, and yet in power aboue al creatures, that is, who alſo is verief1. Cor. 15.21. & 25. Ier. 23.6. Iſai. 53.11. 2. Cor. 5.14. Heb. 7.16. Iſa. 7.14. Rom. 8.3. God.
16 Wherefore is it neceſſarie that he be verie man, and that perfectly iuſt too?
Becauſe the iuſtice of God requireth that the ſame humane nature which hath ſinned, doe it ſelfe likewiſe make recompence for ſinne: But heegRo. 5.12. & 17. that is himſelfe a ſinner,h1. Pet. 3.18. cannot make recompence for others.
17 Why muſt he alſo be verie God?
That he might by the power of his GodheadiIſay. 55.3. & 18. Acts. 2.24. 1. Pet. 3.18. ſuſtaine in his fleſh the burden of Gods wrath, andk1. Iohn. 1.2. & 49.10. Act. 20.28. Ioh. 3.16. might recouer & reſtore vntounto vsus that righteouſneſſe and life which we loſt.
18 And who is that Mediatour, which is together both very God, and a very perfectly iuſt man.
Euen our Lord Ieſus Chriſt,lMat. 1.23.1. Tim. 3.16. Ioh. 14.16.1. Tim. 2.5. Luk. 2.11. who is made to vsus of God wiſedome, righteouſneſſe, ſanctification, andm1. Cor. 1.30. redemption.
19 Whence knoweſt thou this?
Out of the goſpell, which God firſt made knowen innGen. 3.15. Paradiſe, & afterwardsoGen. 22.18. & 49.10.11. Rom. 1.2. Heb. 1.1. Act. 3.22. &c. & 10.43. did ſpread it abroad by the Patriarks & Prophets:pIch. 5.46. Heb. 10.7. ſhadowed it by ſacrifices & other ceremonies of the law: & laſtlyqRom. 10.4. Gal. 4.4. & 3.24. Heb. 13.8. accōpliſhed it by his only begotten Son.
20 Is then ſaluation reſtored by Chriſt to all men, who periſhed in Adam?
Not to al: but to thoſe only who by a true faith are engraffed into him, &rIoh. 1.12. & 3.36. Iſa. 53.11. Pſal. 2.12. Rom. 11.20. Heb. 4.2. & 10 39. receiue his benefits.
21 What is faith?
It is not only a knowlege, whereby I ſurely aſſent to al things which God hathſHeb. 11.13. Ia. 2.19. Gal. 2.20. reuealed vntounto vsus in his word, but alſo an aſſuredtRom. 4.16. & 5.1. & 10.10. &c. Iac. 1.8. truſt kindled in myuRom. 1.16. & 10.17. 1 Cor. 1.21. Mar. 16.16. Act. 16.14. heart by the holyxMat. 16.17. Ioh. 3.5. Gal. 5.22 Phil. 1.19. ghoſt thorough the goſpel, whereby I make my repoſe in God, being aſſuredly reſolued, that remiſſiō of ſins, euerlaſting righteouſnes & lifeaHab. 2.4. Mat. 9.2. Eph. 2.7.8.9. Rom. 5.1. is giuen not to others only, but to me alſo, and that freely through the mercy of God, for thebRom. 3.24.25. Act. 10.43. merit of Chriſt alone.
22 What are thoſe thinges which are neceſſarie for a Chriſtian man to beleeue?
All things which arecIoh. 20.31. Mat. 28.10. promiſed vsus in the goſpel: the ſum whereof is briefely compriſed in the Creed of the Apoſtles, or in the Articles of the Catholick & vndoubted faith of all Chriſtians.
23 Which is that Creede?
I Beleue in God the father almighty, maker of heauē & earth. And in Ieſus Chriſt his only Son, our Lord: which was cōceiued by the holy ghoſt, born of the virgin Mary, ſuffered vnderunder Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead & buried, he deſcended into hell, the third day he roſe again frō the dead, he aſcended into heauen, & ſitteth at the right hand of God the father almighty, from thence ſhal he come to iudge the quick & the dead. I beleue in the holy ghoſt, the holy catholick church, the communion of ſaints, the forgiuenes of ſins, the reſurrection of the body, and the life euerlaſting.
AMEN.
24 Into how manie parts is this Creede diuided?
Into three parts. The firſt is, of the eternall father & our creation. The ſecond, of the Sonne & our redemption. The third, of the holie ghoſt & our ſanctification.
25 Seeing there is dDeut. 6 4. Epheſ. 4.6. Eſa. 44.6. & 45.5. 1. Cor. 8.4.but one onlie ſubſtance of God, why nameſt thou theſe three? The Father, the Sonne, and the holie Ghoſt.
Becauſe God hath ſoeEſa. 61.1. Luc. 4.18. Pſal. 110 1. Mat. 3.16.17. & 28.19. Io. 14.26. & 15.26. Tit. 3.5.6. Eph. 2.18. 2. Cor. 13.13. Gal. 4.6. 1. Ioa. 5.7. manifeſted himſelfe in his woorde: that theſe three diſtinct perſons are that one true euerlaſting God.
OF THE FATHER.
26 What beleeueſt thou, when thou ſaieſt, I beleeue in God the Father almightie, maker of heauen and earth?
I beleeue the euerlaſting father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt whoaGen. 1. & 2. Pſal 33.6. Iob. 33.4. Act. 4.24. & 14.15. &c. Iſa. 45.7. hath made of nothing heauen & earth, with all that are in them, who like-wiſe vpholdeth andbPſa. 104.3. & 115.3. Mat. 10.29. Heb. 1.3. Rom. 11.36. gouerneth the ſame by his eternal Counſel and prouidence;cIoa. 1.12. Rom. 8.15. Gal. 4.5.6.7. Eph. 1.5. to bee my God & my Father for Chriſtes ſake: and therefore I doe ſo truſt in him, and ſo relie on him, that I make no doubt, but he will prouide all thingsdPſal. 55 23. Mat. 6.26. Luc. 12.22. neceſſarie both for my ſoule and bodie. And further whatſoeuer euils he ſendeth on mee in this troubleſome life, hee willeRom 8 28. turne them to my ſafety, ſeeing both he is able to doe it, as beeingfIſa. 46 4 Rom. 10 12. & 8.38 &c. God almightie; and willing to doe it, as beeinggMat 6. & 7.9.10.11. a bountifull father.
27 What is the prouidence of God?
The Almighty power of God eueryevery where preſent,hAct. 17.25. &c. Pſal 94 9. &c. Iſ. 29.15. &c. Ezec. 8.12. whereby hee doth as it were with his hand vphold &iHeb. 1.2.3. gouerne heauen & earth, with all the creatures therin: So that thoſe thinges which growe in the earth, as likewiſe raine and drouth, fruitfulnes & barrainnes, meat &kIer. 5.24. Acts. 14.17. drink,lIoh. 9.3. health and ſikneſſe,mProu. 22.2. riches and pouertie, in a woord, all things come not raſhly or by chance, but by his fatherly counſell and will.
28 What doth this knowledge of the Creation and prouidence of God profite vsus?
That in aduerſitienRom. 5.3. &c. Iac. 1.3. Iob. 1.21. &c. wee may bee patient, andoDeut. 8.10. 1. Theſſ. 5.18. thankfull in proſperitie, &pRom. 5.4.5. hauehave hereafter our chiefeſt hope repoſed in God our moſt faithfull father, beeing ſure that there is nothing which mayqRom. 8.38.39. withdrawe vsus from his louelove, for as much as all creatures are ſo in his power, that without his will they are notrIob. 1.12. & 2.6. Prouer. 21.1. Acts. 17.25. &c. able not only to do any thing, but not ſo much as once to moue.
OF THE SONNE.
29 Why is the Sonne of God called Ieſus, that is, a Sauiour?
Becauſe he ſaueth vsus from al ourſMat. 1.21. Heb. 7.25. ſinnes: Neither ought any ſafety to bee ſought for from any other, nortAct. 4.12. can elſewhere be found.
30 Doe they then beleeue in the only Sauiour Ieſus, who ſeeke for happineſſe and ſafety of the Saintes, or of themſelues, or elſewhere?
No. For although in worde they boaſt themſelues of him as their ſauiour, yet indeed they deny the onlie Sauioura1. Cor. 1.13. & 30. &c. Ga. 5.4. Ieſus. For it muſt needes be that either Ieſus is not a perfect Sauior, or that they, who embrace him as their Sauiour with a true faith, poſſeſſe all thinges in him whichbHeb. 12.2. Iſa. 9.6. Col. 1.19.20. &. 2.10. Iſa. 43.11. & 25. Ioh. 1.16. are required vntounto ſaluation.
31 Why is he called Chriſt, that is, annointed?
Becauſe hee was ordained of the Father, and annointed of the holy Ghoſt thecPſ. 45.8. Heb. 1.9. Deut. 18.15. Acts. 3.22. chiefe Prophet anddIoh. 1.18. & 15 15. Mat. 11.27. Pſ. 110.4. Heb. 7.21. & 10.21. Doctour: who hath e opened vntounto vsus the ſecret counſaill and all the will of his father concerning our Redemption; And the high-Prieſt, who with that one onelyonly Sacrifice of his bodie hathfRom 8.34. & 5.9.10. redeemed vsus, and doth continualliegPſ. 2.6. Luk. 1.33. make interceſſion to his father for vsus. And a king, who ruleth vsus by his word and ſpirit, and defendeth andhMat. 28.18. Ioh. 10.28. maintaineth that ſaluation which hee hath purchaſed for vsus.
32 But why art thou called a Chriſtian?
Becauſe through faith I am a member of IeſusiActs. 11.26. 1 Cor. 6.15. chriſt, andk1. Ioh. 2.27. Iſ. 59.21. Ioe. 2.28. partaker of his annointing, that both I maylMat. 10.33. confeſſe his name, & preſent my ſelfe vntounto him a liuelymRom. 12.1. Apo. 5.8.10.1. Pet. 2.9.2. Tim. 2.12. Rom. 6.12.13. Apo. 1.6. ſacrifice of thankfulnes, and alſo may in this life fight againſt ſin and ſatan with a free & good cōſcience, & afterwardn1. Tim. 1.18.19. enioy an euerlaſting kingdom with chriſt ouer al creatures.
33 For what cauſe is Chriſt called the only begotten ſonne of God, when we alſo are the ſonnes of God?
Becauſe chriſt alone is the coeternal & natural ſon of the eternalloIoh. 1.14. Heb. 1.2. Ioh. 3.16. & 4.9. father, & wepRom. 8.5. Eph. 1.6. Ioh. 1.12. 1. Ioh. 1.3. are but ſonnes adopted of the father by grace for his ſake.
34 Wherefore calleſt thou him our Lord?
Becauſe he redeeming & ranſoming both our body and ſoul from ſins, not with gold nor ſiluer, but with his precious blood, & deliuering vsus frō al the power of the diuel, hath ſet vsusa1. Pet. 1.18. & 10.1. Cor. 6.20. & 7.23. Ep. 1.7. 1. Tim. 2.5.6. free to ſerue him.
35 What beleeueſt thou when thou ſaiſt, He was conceiued by the holy ghoſt & borne of the Virgine Mary?
That the ſonne of God, whobIoh. 1.1. & 17.5. Rom. 1.4. Col. 1.15. &c. Pſ. 2.7. Mat. 3.17. & 16.16. is and continueth true and euerlaſtingcRom. 9.5. Iſ. 7.14. & 9.6. 1. Io. 5.20. Io. 20.28. God,dIoh. 1.14. Gal. 4.4. tooke the verie nature of man, of the fleſh and bloode of the Virgine Mary, by the woorking of the holy Ghoſt,fPſ. 132.11. Act. 2.30. &c. Rom. 1:3. that withal he might be the true ſeed of Dauid, like vntounto his brethren in al things, ſin excepted.aMat. 1.18.20. Luc. 1.35.
36 What profit takeſt thou, by Chriſts holy conception and natiuity?
That hee is ouriHeb. 2.16.17. Mediatour, and dooth couer with his innocency and perfect holines my ſins,gPhil 2 7. in which I was conceiued,hHeb. 4.15. & 7.26. that they may not come in the ſight ofkPſal. 32.1.1. Cor. 1.30. Ro. 8.3.4. Gal. 4.4.5. God.
37 What beleeueſt thou, when thou ſaiſt, He ſuffered?
That hee all the time of his life, which hee lead in the earth, but eſpecially at the end therof,l1. Pet. 2.24. & 3.18. Iſ. 53.12. ſuſteined the wrath of God, both in body and ſoule, againſt the ſin of al mankind, that he might by his paſſion, as the onelyonlym1. Ioh. 2.2. & 4.10. Rom. 3.25. propitiatory ſacrifice, deliuer our body and ſoule from euerlaſting damnation, and purchaſe vntounto vsus the fauour of God, righteouſnes, and euerlaſting life.
38 For what cauſe ſhould hee ſuffer vnderunder Pilate as being his iudge?
That he being innocent andnLuk. 23.14. Ioh. 19.4. condemned before a ciuil iudge mightoPſal. 69.4. Iſ. 53.4.5. 2. Cor. 5.21. Gal. 3.13. deliuer vsus frō the ſeuere iudgement of God, which remained for al men.
39 But is there any thing more in it, that hee was faſtned to the croſſe, than if hee had ſuffered any other kind of death?
There is more: For by this I am aſſured that he took vpō himſelf the curſe, which did lie on me. For the death of the croſſe waspDeut. 21.23. Gal. 3.13. accurſed of god.
40 Why was it neceſſary for Chriſt to humble himſelfe vntounto death?
Becauſe the iuſtice and truth of God could by noaGen. 2.71. other meanes be ſatisfied for our ſins, but by the very death of thebHeb. 2.9.14.15. Phil. 2.8. Sonne of God.
41 To what end was he buried alſo?
That thereby he might make manifeſt, that he wascActs. 13.29. Mat. 27.60. Luk 23.53. Io. 19.38. &c. dead indeede.
42 But ſince that Chriſt died for vsus, why muſt we alſo die?
Our death is not a ſatisfaction for our ſinnes, but the aboliſhing of ſinne, and our paſſage intodIoh. 5.24. Phi. 1.23. Rom. 7.24. euerlaſting life.
43 What other commodity receiue wee by the ſacrifice and death of Chriſt?
That by the vertu of his death, our old man is crucified, ſlaine, andeRo. 6.6.7. &c. buried together with him, that hencefoorth euill luſtes and deſires may notfRom. 6.12. raigne in vsus, but wee maygRom. 12.1. offer our ſelues vntounto him a ſacrifice of thankeſgiuing.
44 Why is there added: He deſcended into hel?
That in my greateſt paines and moſt grieuous tentations I may ſupport my ſelfe with this comfort, that my Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hathhIſay. 53.10. Matth. 27.46. deliuered me, (by the vnſpeakable diſtreſſes, torments, and terrors of his ſoul, into which he was plūged both before, and then eſpecially, when hee hanged on the croſſe) from the ſtraits and tormentes of hel.
45 What doth the reſurrection of Chriſt profit vsus?
Firſt, by his reſurrection he vanquiſhed death, that hee mighti1. Cor. 15.16. & 54.55. Rom. …4.25. 1. Pe. 1.3. &c. & 21. make vsus partakers of that righteouſnes, which hee had gotten vsus by his death. Again, we are now alſokRom. 6.4. Col. … 1. &c. Ep. 2.5. ſtirred vp by his power to a new life. Laſtly, the reſurrectiō of our head chriſt, is al1. Cor. 15.12. &c. Rom. 8.11. pledge vntounto vsus of our glorious reſurrection.
46 How vnderſtād you that, He aſcended into heauē?
That Chriſt, his Diſciples looking on, wasaAct. 1.9. Ma… 16 19. Luc. 24.51. taken vp from the earth into heauen, and yet ſtillbHeb. 4.14 & 7.25. & 9.11. Rom. 8.34. Eph 4.10. Col. 3.1. is there for our ſakes, and wil be, vntill he come againe to iudge the quick andcAct. 1.11. Mat. 24.30. dead.
47 Is not Chriſt with vsus then vntill the ende of the world, as he hath dMat. 28.20. Mat 26.11. Io… 16.18. & 17.11 Acts. 3.21.promiſed?
Chriſt is true God, and true man: and ſo according to his manhood he is not now on earth: but according to his godhead, his maieſty, his grace, and ſpirit, heeIoh. 14 17. &c. & 16.13. Ep. 4.8. Auguſt tract. 50. in Ioh is at no time from vsus.
48 Are not by this means the two natures in Chriſt pulled aſunder, if his humanity bee not whereſoeuer his diuinity is?
No: for ſeeing his diuinity is incomprehēſible, & eueryevery wherefAct. 7.49. & 17.27. &c. Ier. 23.24. preſent: it followeth neceſſarily that the ſame is without the bounds of his human nature which he took vntounto him, and yet is neuertheles in it, &gCol. 2.9. Ioh. 3 13. & 11.15. Mat. 28.6. abideth perſonally vnited to it.
49 What fruite doth the aſcenſion of Chriſt into heauen bring vsus?
Firſt, that heh1. Ioh. 2.1.2. Rom. 8.34. maketh interceſſion to his father in heauen for vsus. Next, that wee hauehave our fleſh in heauen, that wee may bee confirmed thereby, as by a ſure pleadge, that it ſhal come to paſſe, that he who is our head williIoh. 14.2. & 20.17. Eph. 2.6 lift vp vsus his mēbers vntounto him. Thirdly, that heekIoh. 14.16. & 16.7.2. Cor. 1.22. 2. Cor. 5.5. ſendeth vsus his ſpirit inſteed of a pledge between him and vsus, by whoſe forcible working we ſeeke after, not earthly but heauenly things, where he himſelfe islCol. 3.1. Phil. 3.20. &c. ſitting at the right hand of God.
50 Why is it further ſaide, Hee ſitteth at the right hand of God?
Becauſe Chriſt therefore is aſcended into heauen, tomEp. 1.20. & 5.23. Col. 1.18. ſhewe there that hee is the head of his church, by whō the fathernMat. 28.18. Ioh. 5.22. gouerneth al things.
51 What profite is this glorie of our head chriſt vntounto vsus?
Firſt, that through his holy ſpirite heaEph. 4.10. powreth vponupon vsus his members heauenly graces. Then, that hee ſhieldeth andbPſ. 2.9. & 101. 2. Ioh. 10.28. Epheſ. 4.8. defendeth vsus by his power againſt all our enimies.cLu. 21.28. Ro. 8.23.24. Phi. 3.20. Tit. 2.13.
52 What comfort haſt thou by the comming againe of Chriſt to iudge the quicke and dead?
That in all my miſeries and perſecutions I looke, with my head lifted vp, for the verie ſame, who before yeelded himſelfe vntounto the iudgemēt of God for me, andd2. Theſſ. 1.6.7. 1. Theſſ. 4.16. Mat. 25.41. tooke away all malediction from me, to come iudge from heauen, to throw al his & my enimies into euerlaſting paines, but toeMat. 25.34. tranſlate me with all his choſen vntounto himſelf into celeſtiall ioies and euerlaſting glory.
OF THE HOLIE-GHOST.
53 What beleeueſt thou concerning the holy-ghoſt?
Firſt, that he is true and coeternall God with the eternal father & thefGen. 1.2. Iſ. 48.16. 1. Cor. 3.16. 1. Cor. 6.19. Act. 5.3.4. Son: Secondly, that he is alſogMat. 28.19. 2. Cor. 1.2. giuen vntounto mee tohGal. 3.14. 1. Pe. 1.2. 1. Cor. 6.17. make mee through a true faith partaker of Chriſt and all his benefits, toiAct. 9.31. comfort me, and tokIoh. 14.16. 1. Pet. 4.14. abide with mee for euer.
54 What beleeueſt thou concerning the holy & Catholicke Church of Chriſt?
I beleeue that the Sonne oflIoh. 10.11. God doth from themGen. 26.4. beginning of the worldenRom. 8.29.30. Ep. 1.10. & 1. Pet. 1.20. to the end gather, defend andoIſ. 59.21. Ro. 1.16 & 10.14.17. Eph. 5.26. preſerue vntounto himſelfe by his ſpirite andpAct. 2.46. Eph. 4.3.4.5. woorde out of wholeqMat. 16.18. Ioh. 10.28. mankinde a companyr1. Ioh. 3.21. 2. Cor. 13.5. choſen to euerlaſting life, and agreeing in true faith: and that I am a liuelyſ1. Ioh. 2.19. member of that company, and ſo ſhallt1. Cor. 1.8.9. Rom. 8.35. &c. Pſal. 71.18. remaine for euer.
55 What meane theſe wordes, The communion of Saints?
Firſt, that al and euerie one who beleeueth, are in commonaIoh. 1.3. Rom. 8.32. 1. Cor. 12.13. &. 21. 1. Cor. 6.17. partakers of Chriſt, & all his graces, as being his members. And then, that euerie one ought readily &b1. Cor. 13.5. Phil. 2.45.6. cherefully to beſtow the giftes & graces which they hauehave receiued; to the common commodity and ſafety of all.
56 What beleeueſt thou concerning remiſſiō of ſins?
That god, for the ſatisfaction made byc1. Ioh. 2.2. 2. Cor. 5.19.21. Chriſt, hath put out all the remembrancedIer. 31.34. Pſ. 103.3.4.10.11. Rom. 7.24.25. Rom. 8.1.2.3. of my ſinnes, & alſo of that corruption within me, wherewith I muſt fight all my life time: and doth freely endowe me with the righteouſneſſe of chriſt, that IeIoh. 3.18. come not at any time into iudgement.
57 What comfort haſt thou, by the Reſurrection of the fleſh?
That not only my ſoule, after it ſhal depart out of my body, ſhal preſently befLuc. 23.43. Phil. 1.23. taken vp to chriſt, but that this my fleſh alſo, being raiſed vp by the power of chriſt, ſhalbe again vnited to my ſoul, & ſhalbeg1. Cor. 15.53. Iob. 29.25.26. 1. Ioh. 3.2. Phil. 3.21. made like to the glorious body of chriſt.
58 What comfort takeſt thou of the article of euerlaſting life?
That for aſmuch ash2. Cor. 5.2.3. I feel already in my hart the beginning of euerlaſting life, iti1. Cor. 2.9. Iohn. 17.3. ſhal at length come to paſſe, that after this life I ſhal enioy ful & perfect bliſſe, wherein I may magnifie God for euer; which bleſſedneſſe verily, neither eie hath ſeene, nor eare hath heard, neither hath any man in thought conceiued it.
59 But when thou beleeueſt all theſe thinges, what profit redoundeth thence vntounto thee?
That I am righteous in Chriſt before God, and an heir ofkHeb. 2.4. Rom. 1.17. Ioh. 3.36. eternal life.
60 How art thou righteous before God?
lRom. 3.21.22.24.25.28. & 5.1. Gal. 2.16. Ep. 2.8.9. Phil. 3.9.Only by faith in Chriſt Ieſus: ſo that, although my conſcience accuſe me, that I hauehave grieuouſly treſpaſſed againſt al the commandemēts of god, and hauehave notaRom. 3, 9. &c. kept one of them: and further am as yetbRom. 7.23. prone to all euill: yet notwithſtanding (if IcRom. 3 42. Ioh. 3.18. embrace theſe benefits of chriſt with a true confidence & perſuaſion of mind) the ful &dTit. 3.5. Ep. 2.8.9. perfect ſatisfaction, righteouſnes & holines of Chriſt without anye1 Ioh. 2.2. merit of mine, of the meerefRom. 3.24. Deut. 9.6. Ezec. 36.22. mercy of God,g1. Ioh. 2.1. &c. imputed andhRom. 4.4. 2. Cor. 5.19. giuen vntounto me, & that ſo as if neither I had committed any ſin, neither any corruptiō did ſtick vntounto me: yea as I my ſelfe had perfectlyi1. Cor. 5.21. accompliſhed that obedience, which Chriſt accompliſhed for me.
61 Why affirmeſt thou, that thou art made righteous by faith only?
Not for that I pleaſe god through the worthines of meere faith: but becauſe onelyonly the ſatisfaction, righteouſnes and holineſſe of Chriſt is my righteouſneſſe beforek1. Cor. 1.30. &c. 1. Cor. 2.2. God: and Il1. Ioh. 5.10. cannot take hold of it or apply it vntounto my ſelf anie other way than by faith.
62 Why cannot our good works bee righteouſneſſe, or ſome part of righteouſnes before God?
Becauſe that righteouſneſſe which muſt ſtand faſt before the iudgement of God, muſt bee in al points perfect, &mGal. 3.10. Deut. 27.26. agreeable to the Law of God. Now our works, euen the beſt of them are imperfect in this life andnIſa. 64.6. defiled with ſinne.
63 How is it that our good works merit nothing, ſeeing God promiſeth that he wil giuegive a reward for thē, both in this life, and in the life to come?
That rewarde is not giuen of merite, but ofoLuk. 17.10. grace.
64 But doth not this doctrine make men careleſſe and profane?
No. For neither can it bee, but they, which are incorporated into Chriſt through faith, ſhoulde bring forth the fruits ofpMat. 7.18. Ioh. 15.5. thankefulnes.