The Marrow of Modern Divinity, Addendum
LOving Reader, the Printer drawing towards a conclusion, and wanting matter to compleat so many sheets, as was desired, I have thought good (by reason of the sutablenesse of this with the former) to adde these Propositions following, which are proved by Scripture: and gathered long since by Patrick Hambleton Scottishman, and martyred: who was burned in Scotland, the first day of March, Anno 1527.
The first Proposition.
He that loveth God, loveth his neighbour.
This Proposition is proved, 1 John 4.20. If a man say I love God, and yet hateth his brother, he is a lyer: for how can hee that loveth not his brother whom he hath seene, love God whom he hath not seen.
The second Proposition.
Hee that loveth his neighbour as himselfe, keepeth all the Commandements of God.
This Proposition is proved, Matth. 7.12. Whatsoever he would that men should▪ do unto you, even so do ye unto them, for this is the Law and the Prophets: and in Rom. 13.8, 9. Hee that loveth his neighbour, fulfilleth the Law. For this, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steale, thou shalt not bear false witnesse, thou shalt not covet: and if there be any other Commandement, it is briefly comprehended in this, saying, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe, and in Gal. 5.14. All the law is fulfilled in this one word, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self.
The third Proposition.
He that hath faith loveth God.
My Father loveth you because ye love me, and believe that I came out from God, John 16.27.
Argument.
Major.He that keepeth the Commandements of God, hath the love of God.
Minor.He that hath faith keepeth the Commandements of God.
Conclusion.Ergo, He that hath faith loveth God.
The fourth Proposition.
Hee that keepeth one Commandement of God keepeth them all.
This Proposition is confirmed, Heb. 11.6. It is impossible for a man without faith to please God: that is, to keep any one of Gods Commandements as he should do; then whosoever keepeth any one Commandement hath faith.
Argument.
Major.Hee that hath faith keepeth all the Commandements of God.
Minor.He that keepeth any one Commandement of God hath faith.
Conclusion.Ergo, He that keepeth any one Commandement, keepeth them all.
The fifth Proposition.
Hee that keepeth not all the Commandements, keepeth none of them.
Argument.
He that keepeth one Commandement of God keepeth all:
Ergo, he that keeps not all the Commanments of God keepeth not one of them.
The sixth Proposition.
Faith is the gift of God.
Argument.
Every good thing is the gift of God.Major. Minor. Conclusion.
Faith is a good thing.
Ergo, Faith is the gift of God.
The seventh Proposition.
Faith is not in our power.
Argument.
The gift of God is not in our power.Major. Minor. Conclusion.
Faith is the gift of God.
Ergo, Faith is not in our power.
The eighth Proposition.
He that hath faith is just and good.
Argument.
He that is a good tree, bringeth forth good fruit, and is just and good.Major.
Hee that hath faith is a good tree,Minor. and bringeth forth good fruit.
Ergo, he that hath faith is just and good.Conclusion.
The ninth Proposition.
Hee that believeth the Gospel, believeth God.
Argument.
Major.Hee that believeth Gods Word believeth God.
Minor.The Gospel is the Word of God.
Conclusion.Ergo, Hee that believeth the Gospel believeth God.
Iohn 4.26. Luke 1.47. Heb. 13.20. Revel. 1.5. Heb. 9. 1 Pet. 2.To believe the Gospel is this, that Christ is the Saviour of the world, that Christ is our Saviour, Christ bought us with his bloud, Christ washed us with his bloud, Christ offered himselfe a sacrifice for us, Christ bare our sins upon his own back.
The tenth Proposition.
He that believeth the Gospel shall be safe. Go yee unto all the World, and preach the Gospel unto every creature; hee that believeth and is baptised, shall be saved, Mark 16.16.
A comparison between Faith and Incredulity.
Faith is the root of all good, Incredulity is the root of all evill.
Faith maketh God and man good friends, Incredulity maketh them foes.
Faith bringeth God and man together, Incredulity separateth them.
All that Faith doth pleaseth God, all that Incredulity doth displeaseth him.
Faith maketh a man good and righteous, Incredulity maketh him evill
Faith maketh a member of Christ, Incredulity a member of the Devill.
Faith bringeth a man to Heaven, Infidelity bringeth him to Hell.
A dispute between the Law and the Gospell.
The Law said pay the debt, the Gospel said Christ hath payd it.
The Law said thou art a sinner, the Gospel said thy sins are forgiven thee.
The Law said the Father of Heaven is angry, the Gospel said Christ hath pacified it.
The Law said where is thy righteousnesse, the Gospel said, Christ is a believers righteousnesse.
The Law said thou art bound over to me, the Devill and Hell.
The Gospel said, Christ hath delivered a believer from you all.
No manner of works make us righteous.
We believe that a man is justified by faith without the works of the law, Rom. 3.28. No man is justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, And we believe in Jesus Christ, that wee may be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the deeds of the law, for if righteousnesse come by the law, then Christ dyed in vain, Gal. 2.
No works make us unrighteous.
If any evill works make us unrighteous, then the contrary workes should make us righteous, but it is proved that no good works can make us righteous, therefore no evill works can make us unrighteous, if we be believers.
Works then make us neyther good nor evill.
It is proved that works make us neither righteous nor unrighteous, therefore no works make us either good or evill, for righteous and good are one thing, and unrighteous and evill another.
Good works make not a good man, nor evill works an evill man, but a good man bringeth forth good works, and an evill man evill works.
Good fruit maketh not the tree good, nor evill fruit the tree evill, but a good tree beareth good fruit▪ and an evill tree evill fruit.
A good man cannot doe evill works, nor an evill man good works, for a good tree cannot beare evill fruit, nor an evill tree good fruit.
Object.A man is good before he doe good works, and evill before he doe evill works.
Answer.A good man is known by his good works, and an evill man by his evill works, yee shall know them by their fruits, for a good tree beareth good fruit, and an evill tree evill fruit; a man is likened to a tree, and his works to the fruit of the tree.
If works make us neither righteous nor unrighteous, then it maketh no matter what we doe.
I answer, If thou doe evill, it is a sure argument that thou art evill, and wantest faith, if thou doe good, it is an argument that thou art good, and hast faith, for a good tree beareth good fruit, and an evill tree evill fruit; yet good fruit maketh not the tree good, nor evill fruit the tree evill; so that man is good before he doe good works, and evill before he doe evill works.
Faith maketh the good tree, and incredulity the evill tree, such a tree, such fruit; such a man, such works; for all things which are done in faith please God and are good works, and all that are done without faith, displease God, and are evill works.
Whosoever believeth or thinketh to bee saved by his works, denyeth that Christ is his Saviour, for how is he thy Saviour if thou mightest save thy selfe by thy works? or wherefore should he have died for thee, if any works might have saved thee.
Now seeing that he hath paid the debt, thou needest not pay it, neither indeed couldst thou pay it, but shouldest be damned if his bloud were not, but sith hee was punished for that thou shalt not bee punished.
Finally, hee hath delivered thee from thy condemnation, and all evill, and desireth naught of thee, but that thou wilt acknowledge what hee hath done for thee, and beare it in minde, and that thou wouldest helpe others for his sake both in word and deed, even as hee hath holpen thee, for naught and without reward.
O how ready would men bee to help others if wee knew his goodnesse and gentlenesse towards us, hee is a good and a gentle Lord, and doth all for naught, therefore let us follow his steps.
So that I doe not say, that believers should doe no good works, but I say men should not doe good works, to the intent to get the inheritance of heaven through good works, for if we believe we shall get remission of sins, or the inheritance of heaven through works, wee believe not to get the same for Christs sake, neither doe we believe the promise of God that they are given us freely, and so we make God a lyar, for God sayth, thou shalt have the inheritance of heaven for my Sons sake, thy sins are forgiven thee for my Sons sake, but thou sayst it is not so, if thou think to win them by thy works. Thus you see that I condemne not good works, but the false trust in them, for all the works wherein man putteth any confidence, are therewith poysoned and become evill.
Wherefore thou must doe good works, but beware thou doe them not to deserve any good through them, for if thou doe, thou receivest thy good, not as the gift of God, but as a debt to thee, and makest thy se…fe fellow with God, because thou wilt ta…e nothing of him for naught. Presse not th…rfore to the inheritance of heaven through …he presumption of thy good works, for if thou doe, thou shalt fall as Lucifer fell for his pride.
FINIS.
End of the text · Edward Fisher, The Marrow of Modern Divinity (1646)