A briefe Treatise agaynst certayne errors of the Romish Church Uery plainly, notably, and pleasantly confuting the same by Scriptures and auncient writers. Compiled by Gregory Scot. 1570 |
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Against the iustification of Workes.
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 | A briefe Treatise agaynst certayne errors of the Romish Church |  |
Against the iustification of Workes.
From Adam euen as from the roote,
synne hath spred ouer all
The braunches that be of his stocke,
through that his greeuous fall.
synne hath spred ouer all
The braunches that be of his stocke,
through that his greeuous fall.
Such is the poyson that from him
all mankynde hath receiued,
That since we all be borne in synne,
and so in synne conceiued.
all mankynde hath receiued,
That since we all be borne in synne,
and so in synne conceiued.
Therewith came all our myserye,
therewith did enter in
Death, both of body and of soule,
the iust reward of synne.
therewith did enter in
Death, both of body and of soule,
the iust reward of synne.
Then entred hate, and ignorance
of God, and all distrust
Of heauenly grace and righteousnes,
thus Man was spoyled furst.
of God, and all distrust
Of heauenly grace and righteousnes,
thus Man was spoyled furst.
And so became the childe of wrath,
once loued entirelye.
O Adam if thou hadst remaynde
in that feelicitie,
once loued entirelye.
O Adam if thou hadst remaynde
in that feelicitie,
Then honger, cold, nor yet disease,
had neuer man assailde,
Then Sathans power, syn, death, nor hell
had neuer so preuailde.
had neuer man assailde,
Then Sathans power, syn, death, nor hell
had neuer so preuailde.
But sithe the Diuell such wickednes
into the world hath brought,
And so betwixt God and mankynde,
such enmitie hath wrought:
into the world hath brought,
And so betwixt God and mankynde,
such enmitie hath wrought:
Of our religion greatest poynt,
truly to learne is this,
How man to perfect righteousnes
agayne restored is.
truly to learne is this,
How man to perfect righteousnes
agayne restored is.
And how Gods fauour is obtaynd,
from whence we were exilde,
The meane we seeke to vnderstand,
how man is reconcilde.
from whence we were exilde,
The meane we seeke to vnderstand,
how man is reconcilde.
Your Romish church doth falsely teach
in workes of men to trust,
And righteousnes in vaine to seeke,
through merites of the iust.
in workes of men to trust,
And righteousnes in vaine to seeke,
through merites of the iust.
But Scripture teacheth contrarie,
that righteousnes is none,
Whereby man can be iustefyed,
in workes that here be done.
that righteousnes is none,
Whereby man can be iustefyed,
in workes that here be done.
But rightuousnes that shall auayle
and euer more remayne,
By faith in Iesu Christ his death,
alone we do obtayne.
and euer more remayne,
By faith in Iesu Christ his death,
alone we do obtayne.
Before God he is iustefyed
whom God for iust doth take,
And doth acquite as Innocent,
euen for his mercies sake.
whom God for iust doth take,
And doth acquite as Innocent,
euen for his mercies sake.
This Iustification then is wrought,
when God doth synne forgeue,
And doth impute Christs righteousnes
to such as doo beleue.
when God doth synne forgeue,
And doth impute Christs righteousnes
to such as doo beleue.
When man to grace God first did call
his mercye for to show,
What worke of mā did once him moue
such mercie to bestow?
his mercye for to show,
What worke of mā did once him moue
such mercie to bestow?
He chose vs of his own accord,
not as he did foresee
The worthynes of any worke
that afterward should be.
not as he did foresee
The worthynes of any worke
that afterward should be.
The tree thus beyng all corrupt,
what good fruite can it bring?
What water cleare once can proceede
from foule and filthie spring?
what good fruite can it bring?
What water cleare once can proceede
from foule and filthie spring?
Euen such is man with al his thoughts
his wordes and workes he hath,
All is corrupt, and doth deserue
of God nothing but wrath.
his wordes and workes he hath,
All is corrupt, and doth deserue
of God nothing but wrath.
If any thing be worthy praise,
if any worke be good,
By grace the same is wrought in vs,
the praise is due to God
if any worke be good,
By grace the same is wrought in vs,
the praise is due to God
The natural strength of mans free wil
whereof so much you boast,
Not one good worke can worke in vs,
that freedome now is lost.
whereof so much you boast,
Not one good worke can worke in vs,
that freedome now is lost.
When man was create, then he had
the power of free will,
To stand in grace, and had the choise,
so to continue still.
the power of free will,
To stand in grace, and had the choise,
so to continue still.
But so his will he did abuse,
he lost him selfe withall,
That ryse he could not by his strength,
his wil be made it thrall.
he lost him selfe withall,
That ryse he could not by his strength,
his wil be made it thrall.
Therefore what Sathan moueth to,
we do it readilye,
As captiues all he doth vs leade,
Christ onely maketh free.
we do it readilye,
As captiues all he doth vs leade,
Christ onely maketh free.
His holy spirite doth geue the grace
all godly workes to chuse,
It is his onely gift also
that synne we do refuse.
all godly workes to chuse,
It is his onely gift also
that synne we do refuse.
Were it not to great iniurye,
the inheritance to clayme,
Of landes or goods that were but lent,
a while to vse the same?
the inheritance to clayme,
Of landes or goods that were but lent,
a while to vse the same?
No lesse trespasse it is to God,
to challenge as our right,
The power to worke a godly worke,
which is his onely gift.
to challenge as our right,
The power to worke a godly worke,
which is his onely gift.
Then seyng no good worke we haue,
what righteousnes can be?
What merit, wher nothing doth raign
but great iniquitie?
what righteousnes can be?
What merit, wher nothing doth raign
but great iniquitie?
Yea though we be regenerate,
and borne in Christ agayne,
No worke yet here so perfect is,
Gods fauour to obtayne.
and borne in Christ agayne,
No worke yet here so perfect is,
Gods fauour to obtayne.
Our righteousnes all stayned is,
whose hart is pure within?
Who lyueth here so innocent,
that dayly doth not synne?
whose hart is pure within?
Who lyueth here so innocent,
that dayly doth not synne?
The starres that be in firmament,
are not pure in Gods sight,
The Sun and Moone comparde to him,
at all they giue no light.
are not pure in Gods sight,
The Sun and Moone comparde to him,
at all they giue no light.
Then Man that is corruption,
how can he iustefye
Hym selfe, when God as iudge shal sit,
hys righteousnes to trye?
how can he iustefye
Hym selfe, when God as iudge shal sit,
hys righteousnes to trye?
But when we haue done what we can
euen then both more and lesse
Unprofitable seruantes all
our selues let vs confesse.
euen then both more and lesse
Unprofitable seruantes all
our selues let vs confesse.
Our dutie for we haue but done,
nothing here can be founde.
Of supererogation,
in workes that doth abounde.
nothing here can be founde.
Of supererogation,
in workes that doth abounde.
If any thing we do besides,
that God doth not require,
It is but synne, and doth deserue
nothing but wrath and ire.
that God doth not require,
It is but synne, and doth deserue
nothing but wrath and ire.
A free gift is our rightuousnes,
obtayned all by grace,
Least any man should boast him selfe,
our workes here haue no place.
obtayned all by grace,
Least any man should boast him selfe,
our workes here haue no place.
For where to workes reward is due,
there grace is none at all,
The worke once done, the workman may
by right for wages call.
there grace is none at all,
The worke once done, the workman may
by right for wages call.
Thus make you God in debt to man,
if that without delaye
The hyre that we haue labourd for,
he do not trulye paye.
if that without delaye
The hyre that we haue labourd for,
he do not trulye paye.
But those that in ye vineyard wrought
a penny did receaue,
Not as their labours did exceede,
but as the Lord it gaue.
a penny did receaue,
Not as their labours did exceede,
but as the Lord it gaue.
So our inheritance in heauen,
by promise free we haue,
Mercye doth measure all reward,
no merites can it craue.
by promise free we haue,
Mercye doth measure all reward,
no merites can it craue.
Their rightuousnes who leaneth to,
Christes righteousnes doth leese,
All workes reiecte, the Publicane
by faith the Lord did please.
Christes righteousnes doth leese,
All workes reiecte, the Publicane
by faith the Lord did please.
And Abraham his righteousnes
by fayth he dyd obtayne,
Because to God his promise made
constant he did remayne.
by fayth he dyd obtayne,
Because to God his promise made
constant he did remayne.
So freely are we iustefied
by Christes redemption,
Through faith sure fixed in his bloud
we haue remission.
by Christes redemption,
Through faith sure fixed in his bloud
we haue remission.
As Iacob did his father please
the garment hauing on
That was his brothers, and thereby
the blessing gat anon:
the garment hauing on
That was his brothers, and thereby
the blessing gat anon:
So in Gods presence when we shall
at any tyme appeare,
Christes righteousnes the garment
that we must onely weare.
at any tyme appeare,
Christes righteousnes the garment
that we must onely weare.
The sweete fauour that Isaac felt
our faith doth signifie,
The smell whereof so pleaseth God,
it doth vs iustefye.
our faith doth signifie,
The smell whereof so pleaseth God,
it doth vs iustefye.
Faith is the hand wherwith we reach
forgeuenes of our synne,
For this we say our righteousnes
onely doth stand therein.
forgeuenes of our synne,
For this we say our righteousnes
onely doth stand therein.
Fayth onely therefore and no workes
doth synners iustefye,
Because Christes righteousnes to vs
alone it doth applye.
doth synners iustefye,
Because Christes righteousnes to vs
alone it doth applye.
Faith it doth purifye the hart,
then God doth vs accept,
From Faith if they do not proceede,
all workes he doth reiect.
then God doth vs accept,
From Faith if they do not proceede,
all workes he doth reiect.
Abell therefore God dyd regarde,
his offryng he dyd chuse,
But Cain and his sacrifice,
as wycked dyd refuse.
his offryng he dyd chuse,
But Cain and his sacrifice,
as wycked dyd refuse.
Yet meane we not of such a Faith,
as fruite hath none at all,
For that which dead is without works
true Faith we cannot call.
as fruite hath none at all,
For that which dead is without works
true Faith we cannot call.
But Faith which is effectuall,
whereby the iust doth lyue,
As fire his heate alway doth yeld,
so good fruite doth it gyue.
whereby the iust doth lyue,
As fire his heate alway doth yeld,
so good fruite doth it gyue.
As tyme doth serue, and neede require,
so Faith doth worke withall,
Therefore good workes through onely Faith
are not destroyd at all.
so Faith doth worke withall,
Therefore good workes through onely Faith
are not destroyd at all.
The company of godly workes,
faith euermore doth loue,
But when our Faith doth iustefy,
then workes we do remoue.
faith euermore doth loue,
But when our Faith doth iustefy,
then workes we do remoue.
For vnto Faith is promised
all our saluation,
Which to obtaine, no works can help,
but power of Fayth alone.
all our saluation,
Which to obtaine, no works can help,
but power of Fayth alone.
But here the slaūderous tong doth say,
good workes we neede not haue,
It is lost labour to lyue well;
sithe workes no man can saue.
good workes we neede not haue,
It is lost labour to lyue well;
sithe workes no man can saue.
But faithful works they haue this end
to glorify our God,
When other seyng them so shine,
his prayse doth spread abrode.
to glorify our God,
When other seyng them so shine,
his prayse doth spread abrode.
The Sun, the Moone, and eke the stars,
they all created are,
The glory of God throughout the world
here dayly to declare.
they all created are,
The glory of God throughout the world
here dayly to declare.
Then might the loue of God alone
moue vs continually,
To shew forth fruites of godly workes,
his name to gloryfy.
moue vs continually,
To shew forth fruites of godly workes,
his name to gloryfy.
Besides the helpe the nedy haue,
by workes commaunded here,
Our faith by such hir fruites is known
and lyuing doth appeare.
by workes commaunded here,
Our faith by such hir fruites is known
and lyuing doth appeare.
For Faith doth shew obedience,
in outward righteousnes,
Els dead it is and counterfet
the faith that we professe.
in outward righteousnes,
Els dead it is and counterfet
the faith that we professe.
We are now saued from our foes,
from daunger and distres,
To serue the Lord without all feare
in perfect holynes.
from daunger and distres,
To serue the Lord without all feare
in perfect holynes.
Darkenes we are no longer now
but cleare light in the Lord,
In newnes of a godly lyfe
to walke with one accorde.
but cleare light in the Lord,
In newnes of a godly lyfe
to walke with one accorde.
These may persuade vnto good workes
though not to trust therein,
Our calling vnto grace doth moue
a new lyfe to begin.
though not to trust therein,
Our calling vnto grace doth moue
a new lyfe to begin.
And least we should faynt by the way,
or thinke our labour vayne,
Unto good workes is promised
reward of heauenly gayne.
or thinke our labour vayne,
Unto good workes is promised
reward of heauenly gayne.
Not for the worke of his reward,
nor yet for our desart,
But doth proceede of mere good wyll,
not due in any part.
nor yet for our desart,
But doth proceede of mere good wyll,
not due in any part.
For as good workes they be his gift,
when God doth them regarde,
So doth he crowne his own in vs,
when he doth them rewarde.
when God doth them regarde,
So doth he crowne his own in vs,
when he doth them rewarde.
To vs nothing belongeth, but
shame and confusion,
To thee O Lord the praise is due
of our saluation.
shame and confusion,
To thee O Lord the praise is due
of our saluation.
Therefore as we be poore in dede,
and destitute of grace,
Euen so let vs confesse the same,
in truth, before his face.
and destitute of grace,
Euen so let vs confesse the same,
in truth, before his face.
Who craueth almes beyng ritch,
of siluer hauing store?
All beggers shew their poore estate,
thereby to moue the more.
of siluer hauing store?
All beggers shew their poore estate,
thereby to moue the more.
So if we come as ritch in workes
to God, how can we speede?
Such beggers proude he doth refuse,
to helpe in tyme of neede.
to God, how can we speede?
Such beggers proude he doth refuse,
to helpe in tyme of neede.
The tree doth lift it selfe aloft,
that hath least fruite theron,
But where great plenty groweth most
it boweth down anon.
that hath least fruite theron,
But where great plenty groweth most
it boweth down anon.
So are we proude, and yet but poore,
no goodnes we haue here,
Though we lyue well, yet euermore
let vs fall downe in feare.
no goodnes we haue here,
Though we lyue well, yet euermore
let vs fall downe in feare.
And so not in our rightuousnes,
but for his mercies sake,
To God in tyme of troubles great,
our prayers we will make.
but for his mercies sake,
To God in tyme of troubles great,
our prayers we will make.
As vnto godly workes in Christ,
we all be created.
So let vs warely walke therein,
as God hath ordayned.
we all be created.
So let vs warely walke therein,
as God hath ordayned.
Forsaking all our former synnes,
renude in hart and mynde,
Least vnto Christ our Sauiour,
we shew our selues vnkynde.
renude in hart and mynde,
Least vnto Christ our Sauiour,
we shew our selues vnkynde.
Who by his death dyd vs redeeme,
not to our selues to lyue,
But vnto him, his lyfe for vs,
that did so freely gyue.
not to our selues to lyue,
But vnto him, his lyfe for vs,
that did so freely gyue.
O God be mercyfull to vs,
and blesse vs plenteously,
The brightnes of thy countenance
shew vs continually.
and blesse vs plenteously,
The brightnes of thy countenance
shew vs continually.
| A briefe Treatise agaynst certayne errors of the Romish Church | |