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ARTICLE THE TWELFTH.

Of Good Works.

ALBEIT THAT GOOD WORKS, WHICH ARE THE FRUITS OF FAITH, AND FOLLOW AFTER JUSTIFICATION, CANNOT PUT AWAY OUR SINS AND ENDURE THE SEVERITY OF GOD'S JUDGMENT; YET ARE THEY PLEASING AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD IN CHRIST, AND DO SPRING OUT NECESSARILY OF A TRUE AND LIVELY FAITH, INSOMUCH THAT BY THEM A LIVELY FAITH MAY BE AS EVIDENTLY KNOWN, AS A TREE DISCERNED BY THE FRUIT.

THIS article was not among those of 1552; it was added, in 1562, in opposition to the opinions of certain sects called Antinomians, Solifidians, and Gospellers, who denied the necessity of good works. There might also have been a general wish in the compilers of these articles to obviate any mistake which might arise from the expression in the preceding article, in which it is said, that "we are justified by faith only."

BY GOOD WORKS, WHICH ARE THE FRUIT OF FAITH, AND FOLLOW AFTER JUSTIFICATION,

are

are meant those actions which proceed from the principle of a true faith in Christ, and are performed after we are placed in a state of justification, by being admitted to partake of the privileges and promises of the Gospel.

That GOOD WORKS ARE PLEASING AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD IN CHRIST is evident from the earnest exhortations in almost every page of the New Testament, to the practice of the moral and social duties, and from the frequent and positive declarations of Scripture, that they are indispensably necessary to salvation. It is also expressly said, that "we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works (a);" and that “ Christ gave himself for us, that he might redeem ust from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (b).”— "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (c)."-" That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every goodwork (d)."—"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they do good, that they be rich in good works (e)."—"That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished

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unto all good works (f)."-" In all things "In showing thyself a pattern of good works (g).""Put them in mind to be ready to every good work (h)."-"This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works (i)."-" And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works (k)."" To do good and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased (1)."—" Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ (m)."

But though it appears from the whole tenor of the New Testament, and from these texts in particular, that good works are pleasing in the sight of God, yet they are not so meritorious as TO PUT AWAY OUR SINS, nor so perfect as to ENDURE THE SEVERITY OF GOD'S JUDGMENT. “If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall

(f) 2 Tim. c. 3. v. 17.
(h) Tit. c. 3. v. 1.
(k) Heb. c. 10. v. 24.
(m) Heb. c. 13. v. 20 and 21.

(g) Tit. c. 2. v. 7.
(i) Tit. c. 3. v. 8.

(1) Heb. c. 13. v. 16.

shall stand (n)?"." Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified (o)." The corruption of human nature causes even the best of our actions to be in some respects defective, and consequently they will not bear the scrutiny of infinite justice; much less will they expiate those sins, of which every one, in a greater or less degree, is guilty. The imperfection of good works is acknowledged by the antient fathers: Cyril says, "That which seems to be done well by us, cannot escape reprehension and blame, if it be narrowly searched into by God (p);" and Chrysostom says, "We do nothing right; but by the will of God we find our salvation (q).”

GOOD WORKS DO SPRING OUT NECESSARILY OF A TRUE AND LIVELY FAITH; for if a man sincerely believes the divine authority of Christ's religion, and is firmly convinced that his eternal happiness depends upon his obedience to its precepts, such a faith will naturally produce the practice of those virtues which are enjoined by the Gospel; INSOMUCH THAT BY THEM A

LIVELY FAITH MAY BE AS EVIDENTLY KNOWN AS A TREE DISCERNED BY THE FRUIT. The performance of these good works is indeed the

(n) Psalm 130. v. 3.
(p) De Ador. Lib. 4.

test

(0) Ps. 143. v. 2.
(q) In 1 Cor. c. 1. V. 1.

test and criterion of genuine faith, just as

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every tree is known by its own fruit (r);" "Faith, if it hath not works, is dead (§).”

Thus our church considers good works as essential to the character of a true Christian, and as the necessary consequences of sincere faith in Christ; but it does not allow the popish doctrine already mentioned: "Bona opera ad vitam æternam consequendam vere promereri (t)." The true Scripture doctrine is, that good works are indispensable, but not sufficient, for the attainment of eternal life. When we have done all those things which are commanded us, we still say, that " we are unprofitable servants," and humbly rely upon the merits and mediation of Christ for our salvation.

Bishop Burnet, in speaking of the pretended merit of good works, expresses himself in a manner which must be admired by every pious and humble Christian: "The word merit has a sound that is so daring, so little suitable to the humility of a creature, to be used towards a Being of infinite majesty, and with relation to endless rewards, that on many accounts this word ought not to be made use of. There is somewhat in the nature of man apt to swell and

(r) Luke, c. 6. v. 44. (s) James, c. 2. v. 17. (t) Conc. Trid. de Bon. Op. cap. 11.

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