the Epifile latheGalatians. Chap 3 . iuflification of faith without workes : which doctrine is like and futable to the exampleofAbraham , whobeleened God,4nd it wits imputedfor inflice. Here Paul fits downe the %coed argument , whereby he 5 prooues the truth of his doarine. And it isframed thus : As Abrahamwas iuflified, fo are the children of Abraham. Abra- hamwas iuflified by iuf1ice imputed,and apprehended by faith, verf, 6. Therefore the childrenof Abraham arc thus in- ftificd. This conclufion is the principali qucflion : it is not YO here exprefícdbut in theroom e thereofadeclaration is made, who arc the true children of God, namely, they that are ofA- braham, in refpefï of faith. That which is (aide here of Abraham , is a maine ground concerning the iuflificationof a firmer , in the bookes of the r 5 old and newTeflament: therefore .I will more carefully fearch the true interpretation ofit. . Someexpound the words thus Abraham belecued God, and the world reputed him for a good,andvertuous man But ifthis betheright fink , then Paul is deceiued , who brings this 20 text to prooue the iuflificationof Abraham,not onely before menbut alto beforeGod. Nowverme andgoodnes, which is in eilimation among men, is not fufticient, to acciuitand iufli- fie vs, beforeGod. The fecond expofition is ofthe Papifls , who byfaith here 25 ,vnderfland,a general) faith, whereby the articles of faith are beleeued. And by impuratiorz,they vn derfland reputation,vvher by a thing is efleemed as it is indeede.' And they teach that faith is reputed for rightcoufnes; becaufe (fay they) faith for- med with charitie, is indcede the iuflice whereby a firmer is iu- 30 flificd before God. But this Expofition hath his defects, and errours. Forfirft ofall,Charitiois notthe farme,or life offaith, but thefruit and effeEE of it. i.Tim. r 5.7"he ende o'twhing loue out of'a pare heart , good confcience , andfaithw f aimed, it is obieEîed , that as thebodie a dead without thefoule fo is faith 35 without wor(es, Iam.2.26. and therefore that workes are the life of faith. Án/ S. James"by.faith, vnderf} ands a pretended faith, or the ProfeflionoffaitGh,as:appearesby the words,v,r.}.though aman ray he hathfaith :'and v. t 5. jhew me thyfaith. Now ofthis profeffian offaith, workes are the life. . Secondly, this expofition makes faith, or the aEì of belee- Y 3 uin.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=