Chapter 4: OF GOOD WORKS, PROCEEDING OUT OF FAITH THROUGH LOVE

OF GOOD WORKS, PROCEEDING OUT OF FAITH THROUGH LOVE

These things we will not have men so to understand, as though we placed salvation and righteousness in slothful thoughts of the mind, or in faith destitute of love, which they all faith without form, seeing that we are sure that no man can be justified or saved except he supremely love and most earnestly imitate God. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son "; to wit, as in the glory of a blessed life, so in the cultivation of innocence and perfect righteousness; "for we are his workmanship, created unto good works." But no one can love God above all things, and worthily imitate him, but he who indeed knows him and expects all good things from him. Therefore, we cannot be otherwise justified - i.e., become righteous as well as saved (for righteousness is even our salvation) - than by being endued chiefly with faith, whereby, believing the Gospel, and therefore being persuaded that God has adopted us as his children, and that he will ever bestow his paternal kindness upon us, we wholly depend upon his pleasure. This faith St. Augustine in his book, De Fide et Operibus, calls "Evangelical" - to wit, that which is efficacious through love. By this only are we regenerated and the image of God is restored in us. By this, although we are born corrupt, our thoughts even from our childhood being altogether prone to evil, we become good and upright. For from this we, being fully satisfied with one God, the perennial fountain of blessings that is copiously effluent, show ourselves to others as gods - i.e., true children of God - by love striving for their advantage so far as we are able. For "he that loveth his brother abideth in the light" and "is born of God," and is wholly given to the new, and at the same time old, commandment concerning mutual love. And this love is the fulfilling of the whole law, as Paul says: "All the law is fulfilled in one word: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Gal. 5:14). For whatever the law of God teaches has this end and requires this one thing, that at length we may be reformed to the perfect image of God, being good in all things, and ready and willing to serve the advantage of men: which we cannot do unless we be furnished with virtues of every kind. For who can purpose and do all things, as the duty of a Christian requires, to the true edifying of the Church and the sound profit of all - i.e., according to God's law and for his glory-except he both think and speak and do everything in order and well, and therefore be very familiarly acquainted with the whole company of virtues?