Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
IV. Good works are not the cause, but the effect of our uniting to Christ and of our justification and life.
Likewise as these branches and boughs do not therefore bring forth good fruits, that they might by them be planted in the vine or the olive tree, or that they might live therein, but therefore they bring fruit, because they are already planted and do live, and so their good fruits are not the causes of their planting and life, but the effects and manifest testimonies thereof, after the very same manner we believe that it is between us and Christ, as also Augustine fully teacheth, who also saith that good works do not go before him that is to be justified, but follow him that is justified. And therefore we constantly confess that a man (speaking properly and of the justification of his life) is not justified by works, but by them declared to be just.
For the reference, see Girolamo Zanchi: good works are not the cause, but the effect of justification.
Likewise as these branches and boughs do not therefore bring forth good fruits, that they might by them be planted in the vine or the olive tree, or that they might live therein, but therefore they bring fruit, because they are already planted and do live, and so their good fruits are not the causes of their planting and life, but the effects and manifest testimonies thereof, after the very same manner we believe that it is between us and Christ, as also Augustine fully teacheth, who also saith that good works do not go before him that is to be justified, but follow him that is justified. And therefore we constantly confess that a man (speaking properly and of the justification of his life) is not justified by works, but by them declared to be just.
For the reference, see Girolamo Zanchi: good works are not the cause, but the effect of justification.
