ARTICLE XI. Of the Justification of Man.
“We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore that we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort, as more largely is expressed in the homily of justification.”
I believe this article relates to the meritorious cause of justification, rather than to the condition of it. On this therefore I do not build any thing concerning it, but on those that follow.
ARTICLE XII. Of Good Works.
“Albeit that good works which are the fruits of faith and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins—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 may be known by the fruit.”
We are taught here, 1. That good works in general, follow after justification. 2. That they spring out of a true and lively faith, that faith whereby we are justified: 3. That true, justifying faith may be as evidently known by them, as a tree discerned by the fruit.
Does it not follow, that the supposing any good work to go before justification, is full as absurd as the supposing an apple or any other fruit to grow before the tree?
But let us hear the church, speaking yet more plainly.
ARTICLE XIII. Of Works done before Justification.
“Works done before the grace of Christ, and the inspiration of his Spirit, (i. e. before justification, as the title expresses it) are not pleasant to God, forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Jesu Christ—Yea rather, for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not they have the nature of sin.”