Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
Doct. 1. Our good works are no ways the cause of our justification, but the effects and fruits of a man justified.
It is gathered from the Text [James 2: 22], for as much as works are the effects of faith: And faith and justification according to the nature of relatives, are at once or together in nature. A true believer and a justified man are the same thing. If therefore good works are the effects of a believer, then are they the effects of one justified also. And that works justify us not, is apparent from four reasons.
Reas. 1. Because believers are not now under the Covenant of works, and therefore cannot be justified by works, but are all condemned by them; if we stand to them in that point, because none of them come up to what the Law requires, and so are sinful and imperfect.
Reas. 2. Because all our good works are debts, and therefore they can never properly merit or deserve pardon.
Reas. 3. Because the good works we do, came not from our own strength, but from the grace of God.
Reas. 4. Because our best good works are in themselves imperfect, and defiled with many uncleannesses. ...
For more, see William Ames: Good works are not the cause of our justification.
It is gathered from the Text [James 2: 22], for as much as works are the effects of faith: And faith and justification according to the nature of relatives, are at once or together in nature. A true believer and a justified man are the same thing. If therefore good works are the effects of a believer, then are they the effects of one justified also. And that works justify us not, is apparent from four reasons.
Reas. 1. Because believers are not now under the Covenant of works, and therefore cannot be justified by works, but are all condemned by them; if we stand to them in that point, because none of them come up to what the Law requires, and so are sinful and imperfect.
Reas. 2. Because all our good works are debts, and therefore they can never properly merit or deserve pardon.
Reas. 3. Because the good works we do, came not from our own strength, but from the grace of God.
Reas. 4. Because our best good works are in themselves imperfect, and defiled with many uncleannesses. ...
For more, see William Ames: Good works are not the cause of our justification.
