Welchman on Article XI: Of the Justification of Man

Only fer the Merit] Since the very best Works of even the best of Men are impertect, fo that it God should enter into Judgment with. his Scruants, no Man living would be nJaflified, (Vial. cxliii. 2) it follows, that as many as are jus- titicd, are justified only because of the Metits of Chritt, by Faith; I mean, a {vey Faith, which woricth by IJ. aue, Gal. v. 6. See Rain. ili. 24, 25, 26. Being justified by hi; Grace, through the Redemption dat is in Fasus Christ, au hom Cad hath set forth ts be a Propitiation, through Faith in his

Blood, to declare his Rigbtecusnest for the Remission of Sins tb

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NorTes on the XXXIX Articles

that are past, through the Forbearance of God; To declare, 7 fey, at this Time his Righitcousness, that he might be just, and the Tustifier of him that believeth in Fesus. And Eph. ii. 8, 9, By Grace ye are Javed, through Faith; and that not of yoterselves : It is the Gift of God: Not of Works, left any Man should boast. |

Te. ad Cor. c 32. (0 Adv. Her. J. 4. ce 13+ cc Tb. c. 67. 8 Teftim. ad Quirin. © 4. 3. c. 43. 4 (0

See also Cement of Rome. © And We therefore, who are called by his Will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by our- selves, not by our own Wisdom, our own Understand.. ing, or our own Godliness, or by Works which we have done in the Sanctity of our Heart; but by Faith, by which God Almighty had justified all those who have been justified irom the Beginning of the World.”

Thus Jrenæus lays: + The Faith which is towards the molt High God, justifieth Man.” And again; “ For the Fuft shall live by Faith. Now this Doctrine, That the Fuft shall live by Faith, was foreto!d by the Prophets.“ Thus St. Cyprian says: + That it is Faith alone which profits us; and that we are able to do in Proportion t our Believing; as appears from the Book of Genes, where we find, that Abraham believed God, and that it was imputed to him for Righteousness.” And again

Fei. 63. he says, * That the Blessing which was given to Abraham

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belonged to Us Christians also. For if Abraham be- lieved God, and it was imputed to him for Righteoul- ness; then whosoever believeth God, and liveth by Faith, is found Righteous,”

By Faith] Note, that we are justified by Faith, not be- cause of Faith.

For there is not more Merit in our Faith,

than in our Works; since Faith also is impetfect in us, and it all, how great soever it be, is the Gift of G, Eph. 3. 8. Faith therefore is not the Cane, but the Condition of our Just i fcatien, which is solely to be attributed to the Bounty of God, and the Merits of Christ,

By Faith only] No focuer is the Mind endued with a

true Faith, than a Man is reputed righteous before God. Fer with the Heart Man believcth unto Righteousness, Rom.

X. 10.

But the Confeflion also of the Mouth, and all other

good Works, arc required for Salvation, when we have \the Power to perform tnem. But if this be wanting, Faith

alone 1s sufficient.

Sce Nam. v. 1, 2. Therefore being

justified by Faith, we have Peace with Ged. through our Lord Fejus Christ : By whom diso we have Access by Faith into this Grace wherein we /land, and rejoice in Hope of the Glory of God.

: See

of the Church of ENGLAND.

See also Nowelli Catech. p. 98, 129. Homilies of Sal- vation and Faith. Hammond’s Prat. Cat. B. I. SeR. 4. Prideaux’s Fasc, Controv. C. 5. Q 5. Blacthall on James It. 24. Hlaoter’s Discourse of Justification. Hall’s Roma Ir- reconcil. Sect. 7. Jewel’s Def. Apol. Part. I. Ch. 9. Div. 4.