tion that is in Chrift Jefus: Whom God hath fet forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in His Blood, to declare His Righteoufnels for the Remiffion of Sins that are paft, through the Forbearance of GOD; to declare, I fay, at this Time His Righteoufnefs, that He might be just, and the Juftifier of Him which believeth in Jesus. Rom. v. 1. Therefore being juftified by Faith, we have Peace with GOD through our Lord Jefus Chrift. 2 Rom. iii. 27, 28. Where is boafting then? it is excluded. By what Law? of Works? Nay: But by the Law of Faith. Therefore we conclude, that a Man is juftified by Faith, without the Deeds of the Law. Eph. ii. 8, 9. For by Grace ye are faved through Faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the Gift of GoD: Not of Works, any Man fhould boast. left ARTICLE XII. DE Good W02ks. I LBEIT that good Works, which are the A Fruits of Faith, and follow after Juftifica 2 tion, cannot put away our Sins, and endure the Severity of GOD's Judgment; yet are they 3 pleafing and acceptable unto God in Christ, and do 4 spring out neceffarily of a true and lively Faith; infomuch that by them a 5 lively Faith may be as evidently known as a Tree difcerned by the Fruit. Eph. ii. 10. We are his Workmanship, created in Chrift Jefus unto good Works, which God hath before ordained, that we thould walk in them. Tit. ii. 11, &c. The Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all Men, teaching us that denying Ungodlinefs and worldly Lufts, we fhould live righteoufly, soberly, and godly, in this prefent World; looking for that bleffed Hope, and the glorious appearing of the great GoD and our Saviour Jefus Chrift, who gave Himfelf for us, that He might redeem us from all Iniquity, and purify 5454 unto Himself a peculiar People, zealous of good Works. Tit. iii. 8. Thefe Things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in GoD might be careful to maintain good Works. James ii. 17, 18. Faith, if it have not Works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a Man may fay, thou haft Faith, and I have Works: Shew me thy Faith without thy Works, and I will fhew thee my Faith by my Works. Gal. v. 6. In Chrift Jefus neither Circumcifion availeth any Thing, nor Uncircumcifion, but Faith which worketh by Love. John xv. 8. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much Fruit. Ver. 16. Ye have not chofen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye fhould go and bring forth Fruit, and that your Fruit fhould remain. Col. i. 10. Being fruitful in every good Work. 2 Luke xvii. 10. When ye fhall have done all those Things which are commanded you, fay, We are unprofitable Servants: We have done that which was our Duty to do. Pf. cxliii. 2. Enter not into Judgment with thy Servant, O Lord, for in thy Sight shall no Man living be juftified. 3 Heb. xiii. 16, 20, 21. To do Good and to communicate forget not, for with fuch Sacrifices GOD is well pleafed. Now the GOD of Peace, &c. make you perfect in every good Work, to do His Will, working in you that which is well-pleafing in His Sight, through Jefus Chrift. of Fils 5.9. James ii. 17, 18. Vid. Note 1. Gal. v. 22. The Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-Suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meeknefs, Temperance, against fuch there is no Law. s Matt. vii. 17. Every good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit. Ver. 20. Wherefore by their Fruits ye fhall know them. ARTICLE XIII Df Works befoze Juftification. WORKS done before the Grace of Chrift 2 and the Infpiration of his Spirit, are ' not pleasant to GOD, forafmuch as they fpring not of Faith in Jelus Chrift, neither do they make Men meet to receive Grace, or (as the School-authors fay) deferve Grace of Congruity: Yea rather, for that they are not done as 3 GOD has willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but they have the Nature of Sin. Heb. xi. 6. Without Faith it is impoffible to please GOD. Rom. viii. 8. They that are in the Flefh cannot please GOD. 2 Tit. iii. 5. Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done, but according to His Mercy He faved us, by the Washing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft. 3 Col. iii. 17. Whatsoever ye do in Word or Deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jefus, giving Thanks to God and the Father by Him. 4 Rom. xiv. 22. Whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin. ARTICLE XIV. Df Works of Supererogation. V° Oluntary Works befides, over and above GOD's Commandments, which they call Works of Supererogation, cannot be taught without Arrogancy and Impiety. For by them Men do declare, that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but that they do D 2 more 2 more for his Sake, than of bounden Duty is required: Whereas Chrift faith plainly, when ye have done all that are commanded to you, fay, We are unprofitable Servants. 1 Matt. xv. 9. In vain do they worship me, teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men. Deut. iv. 2. 2 Luke xv. 7—10. Which of you having a Servant ploughing and feeding Cattle, will fay unto Him by and by when he is come from the Field, Go and fit down to Meat? and will not rather fay unto him, Make ready wherewith I may fup, and gird thyfelf and ferve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterwards thou fhalt eat and drink Doth he thank that Servant, because he did the Things that were commanded? I trow not. So likewife ye, when ye fhall have done all these Things which are commanded you, fay, we are unprofitable Servants, we have done that which was our Duty to do. ARTICLE XV. Df Chrift alone without Sin. CHR I HRIST, in the Truth of our Nature, was made like unto us in all Things, Sin only excepted, from which he was clearly void both in his Flesh and in his Spirit. He came to be a 3 Lamb without Spot, who, by the Sacrifice of Himfelf once made, fhould take away the Sins of the World And Sin (as St. John faith) was not in Him. But all we the reft (although baptized and born again in Chrift, yet) + offend in many Things; and if we fay we have no Sin, we deceive our felves, and the Truth is not in us. Heb. ii. 14. As the Children are Partakers of Fleth and Blood, he alfo himfelf likewife took Part of the fame. Ver. 16. For verily he took not on Him the Nature of Angels, Angels, but He took on Him the Seed of Abraham. Ver. 17. Wherefore in all Things it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren. 2 John xiv. 30. The Prince of this World cometh and hath nothing in me. 1 Pet. ii, 22. Who did no Sin, neither was Guile found in his Mouth, I John iii. 5. In Him is no 'Sin. 3 John i. 29. Behold the Lamb of GOD, which taketh away the Sin of the World. I Pet. i. 18. Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible Things, &c. but with the precious Blood of Chrift, as of a Lamb without Blemish and without Spot. Heb. ix. 14. How much more fhall the Blood of Chrift, who through the Eternal Spirit offered himfelf without Spot to GOD, purge your Confcience from dead Works to ferve the living GOD? Ver. 26. Now once in the End of the World hath he appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself. 4 James iii. 2. In many Things we offend all. Eccl. vii. 20. There is not a juft Man upon Earth that doeth Good and finneth not. 5 1 John i. 8. If we fay that we have no Sin, we deceive ourselves, and the Truth is not in us.-Ver. 10. If we fay that we have not finned, we make Him a Lyar, and his Word is not in us. ARTICLE XVI. Of Sin after Baptifm. OT every deadly Sin, willingly committed after Baptifm, is 'Sin against the holy Ghoft, and unpardonable. Wherefore the Grant of Repentance is not to be denied to fuch as fall into Sin after Baptifm. After we have received the holy Ghost, we may depart from Grace given, and fall into Sin, and 3 by the Grace of God (we may) arife again, and amend our Lives. And therefore they are to be condemned which fay, they can no more Sin as long as they live here, or deny the Place of Forgiveness to fuch as truly repent. II Cor. |