The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 3 · Question 86 – Question 89
ON THE 32. SABBATH.Queſt. 86. When as wee are delivered from all our ſins and miſeries, without any merit of ours, by the mercy of God only for Chriſts ſake, for what cauſe are we to doe good works?
Anſw. Becauſe, after that Chriſt hath redeemed us with his bloud, he reneweth us alſo by his Spirit to the image of himſelfe: that we, receiving ſo great benefits, ſhould ſhew our ſelves all our life time thankfull to GodaRom. 6.13. & 12.1, 2. 1 Pet. 2.5, 9. 1 Cor. 6.20., and honour himbMatt. 5.16. 1 Pet. 1.12.. Secondly, that every of us may be aſſured of his faith by his fruitc2 Pet. 1.10. Matth. 7.17, 18. Galat. 5.6, 22.. And laſtly, by our honeſt and good converſation, may win others unto Chriſtd1 Pet. 2.12. Romans 14.19. Matthew 5.16..
The Explication.
THis Queſtion concerning the impulſive cauſes of good works, is moved in the firſt place, and before we come to handle the Queſtion of mans converſion; not that good works goe before converſion, but for the orderly connexion of this latter part of Catechiſm with the former. For out of the doctrine of free ſatisfaction, humane reaſon thus argueth: He is not bound to ſatisfie, for whom another hath already ſatisfied: Chriſt hath ſatisfied for us: Therefore there is no need that we ſhould do good works. Anſ. The Concluſion containeth more then the premiſſes enforce; that which followeth out of the two former propoſitions is this: Therefore we our ſelves are not bound to ſatisfie; and thus much we grant: 1. In reſpect of Gods juſtice, which exacteth not a double payment. 2. In reſpect of our ſalvation, for which, if wee were bound to ſatisfie, it ſhould be no ſalvation at all. Farther alſo we are obliged unto obedience and good works, in regard of thoſe cauſes which are in this Queſtion inlarged. 1. Becauſe good works are the fruits of our regeneration by the holy Ghoſt, which is perpetually united with free juſtification: For whom hee called, them alſo he juſtified, and glorified. Rom. 8.30.Such were ſome of you; but ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified. 1 Cor. 6.11.Therefore they who perform no good works, declare themſelves to be neither regenerated by the Spirit of God, nor redeemed by Chriſts bloud. 2. To teſtified our thankfulneſſe towards God for the benefit of our redemption:Rom 6.13. & 12.1. Give your members weapons of righteouſneſſe unto God. Give up your bodies a living ſacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reaſonable ſerving of God. 3. That God may be honoured by us: Let your light ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee your good works, and glorifie your Father which is in heaven.Mat. 5.16. That by your good works which they ſhall ſee, 1 Pet. 2.12.they may glorifie God in the day of viſitation. 4. Becauſe good works are fruits of faith, by which we judge of our owne faith, and of the faith of others: Give diligence to make your calling and election ſure: 1 Pet. 1.10.after which words of Peter, certain copies inſert theſe words, by good works. Matth. 7.17.Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evill frruit. Galat. 5.6, 22.Faith worketh by love. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-ſuffering, gentleneſſe, goodneſſe, faith, meekneſſe, temperance. 5. That we may win others unto Chriſt: When thou art converted, Luke 22.32. 1 Pet. 3.1.ſtrengthen thy brethren. Let the wives be ſubject to their huſbands, that even they which obey not the word, may without the word be won by the converſation of the wives. Let us follow thoſe things which concern peace, Rom. 14.9.and wherewith one may edifie another.Theſe cauſes are with diligence to be urged and unfolded unto the people in our ſermons of exhortation: and hereunto tendeth the whole ſixth Chapter, and part of the eighth Chapter of the Epiſtle to the Romans, as far as the ſixteenth Verſe.
Three cauſes why juſtification and regeneration have a neceſſary coherence.For farther declaration of the firſt cauſe, we may obſerve, that the benefit of juſtification is not given without the benefit of regeneration: 1. Becauſe Chriſt hath merited both; to wit, remiſſion of ſins, and the dwelling of God in us by his holy Spirit. Now the holy Ghoſt is never idle, but alwaies working, and ſo maketh thoſe men in whom he dwelleth conformable unto God. 2. Becauſe by faith the hearts are purified: Acts 15.9.For in them to whom Chriſts merit is by faith applied, is kindled a love of God, and earneſt deſire of performing things acceptable unto him. 3. Becauſe God imparteth the benefit of juſtification to none, but to them which prove thankfull: But no man can prove thankfull, but he which receiveth the benefit of regeneration: Therefore neither of theſe can be ſeparated from the other.
We are farther to note the difference of the firſt and ſecond cauſe. The firſt ſheweth us What Chriſt worketh in us by the vertue and power of his death. The ſecond teacheth us What things we are bound unto in regard of the benefits we have received.
Queſt. 87. Cannot they then be ſaved, which be unthankfull, and remain ſtill careleſly in their ſins, and are not converted from wickedneſſe unto God?
Anſ. By no means. For as the Scripture beareth witneſſe, neither unchaſte perſons, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor theeves, nor covetous men, nor drunkards, nor ſlanderers, nor robbers, ſhall inherit the kingdome of Goda1 Cor. 6.9. Epheſ. 5 5, 6. 1 John 1.14..
The Explication.
THis Queſtion is a collection or conſequent iſſuing out of the former Queſtion, and depending thereon: For whereas good works are the fruits of our regeneration, and are the thanks we owe unto God, and evident arguments of true faith, which whoſoever have, they onelyonly are ſaved: on the contrary it followeth, that evill works are the fruits of the fleſh, unthankfulneſſe to God, and cleer arguments of infidelity, wherein whoſoever perſevere, they cannot be ſaved. Therefore they who are not converted from their evill works unto God, but continue in their ſins, they are condemned for ever;1 Cor. 6.9. for ſo ſaith the Scripture, Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, Galat. 5.21.nor wantons, &c. ſhall inherit the kingdom of God. Whereof I tell you before, as I alſo have told you before, that they which doe ſuch things ſhall not inherit the kingdom of God. Epheſ. 5 5.For this ye know, that no whoremonger, neither unclean perſon, nor covetous perſon, which is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Chriſt and of God. For for ſuch things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of diſobedience. 1 John 3.14.He which loveth not his brother, remaineth in death. We may farther obſerve, that here is contained another cauſe of good works, ariſing from the effect of the contrary, namely, of evill works: becauſe they which have not good works, but perſevere in ſin, cannot be ſaved, ſeeing they are deſtitute of true faith and converſion.
ON THE 33. SABBATH.Queſt. 88. Of what parts conſisteth the converſion of men unto God?
Anſw. It conſiſteth of the mortifying of the old manaRom. 6 1, 4, 5, 6. Epheſ. 4.22, 23, 24. Col. 3.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. 1 Cor. 5.7. 2. Cor. 7.11., and the quickning of the new man.
Queſt. 89. What is the mortifying of the old man?
Anſ. To be truly and heartily ſorry, that thou haſt offended God by thy ſins, and daily more and more to hate and eſchew thembRom. 8.13. Joel 2.13. Hoſea 6.1..