第78章

Thereforerepentanceandbaptism，thatis，believingthatJesusistheChrist，isallthatisnecessarytosalvation。Again，ourSaviourbeingaskedbyacertainruler，“WhatshallIdotoinheriteternallife？“*(3)answered，“Thouknowestthecommandments，Donotcommitadultery，Donotkill，Donotsteal，Donotbearfalsewitness，Honourthyfatherandthymother“：*(4)whichwhenhesaidhehadobserved，ourSaviouradded，“Sellallthouhast，giveittothepoor，andcomeandfollowme“：whichwasasmuchastosay，relyonmethatamtheking。Thereforetofulfilthelaw，andtobelievethatJesusistheking，isallthatisrequiredtobringamantoeternallife。

Thirdly，St。Paulsaith，“Thejustshalllivebyfaith“；*(5)noteveryone，butthejust；thereforefaithandjustice(thatis，thewilltobejust，orrepentance)areallthatisnecessarytolifeeternal。AndourSaviourpreached，saying，“Thetimeisfulfilled，andthekingdomofGodisathand；repentandbelievetheEvangel，“*(6)thatis，thegoodnewsthattheChristwascome。Thereforetorepent，andtobelievethatJesusistheChrist，isallthatisrequiredtosalvation。

Seeingthenitisnecessarythatfaithandobedience(impliedinthewordrepentance)dobothconcurtooursalvation，thequestionbywhichofthetwowearejustifiedisimpertinentlydisputed。

Nevertheless，itwillnotbeimpertinenttomakemanifestinwhatmannereachofthemcontributesthereunto，andinwhatsenseitissaidthatwearetobejustifiedbytheoneandbytheother。Andfirst，ifbyrighteousnessbeunderstoodthejusticeoftheworksthemselves，thereisnomanthatcanbesaved；forthereisnonethathathnottransgressedthelawofGod。Andthereforewhenwearesaidtobejustifiedbyworks，itistobeunderstoodofthewill，whichGoddothalwaysacceptfortheworkitself，aswellingoodasinevilmen。Andinthissenseonlyitisthatamaniscalledjust，orunjust；andthathisjusticejustifieshim，thatis，giveshimthetitle，inGod’sacceptationofjust，andrendershimcapableoflivingbyhisfaith，whichbeforehewasnot。Sothatjusticejustifiesinthatsenseinwhichtojustifyisthesameasthattodenominateamanjust；andnotinthesignificationofdischargingthelaw，wherebythepunishmentofhissinsshouldbeunjust。

Butamanisthenalsosaidtobejustifiedwhenhisplea，thoughinitselfinsufficient，isaccepted；aswhenwepleadourwill，ourendeavourtofulfilthelaw，andrepentusofourfailings，andGodacceptethitfortheperformanceitself。AndbecauseGodacceptethnotthewillforthedeed，butonlyinthefaithful，itistherefore，faiththatmakesgoodourplea；andinthissenseitisthatfaithonlyjustifies：sothatfaithandobediencearebothnecessarytosalvation，yetinseveralsenseseachofthemissaidtojustify。

Havingthusshownwhatisnecessarytosalvation，itisnothardtoreconcileourobediencetoGodwithourobediencetothecivilsovereign，whoiseitherChristianorinfidel。IfhebeaChristian，healloweththebeliefofthisarticle，thatJesusistheChrist；

andofallthearticlesthatarecontainedin，orarebyevidentconsequencededucedfromit：whichisallthefaithnecessarytosalvation。Andbecauseheisasovereign，herequirethobediencetoallhisown，thatis，toallthecivillaws；inwhichalsoarecontainedallthelawsofnature，thatis，allthelawsofGod：forbesidesthelawsofnature，andthelawsoftheChurch，whicharepartofthecivillaw(fortheChurchthatcanmakelawsistheCommonwealth)，therebenootherlawsdivine。WhosoeverthereforeobeyethhisChristiansovereignisnottherebyhinderedneitherfrombelievingnorfromobeyingGod。ButsupposethataChristiankingshouldfromthisfoundation，JesusistheChrist，drawsomefalseconsequences，thatistosay，makesomesuperstructionsofhayorstubble，andcommandtheteachingofthesame；yetseeingSt。Paulsaysheshallbesaved；muchmoreshallhebesavedthatteacheththembyhiscommand；andmuchmoreyet，hethatteachesnot，butonlybelieveshislawfulteacher。Andincaseasubjectbeforbiddenbythecivilsovereigntoprofesssomeofthosehisopinions，uponwhatjustgroundcanhedisobey？Christiankingsmayerrindeducingaconsequence，butwhoshalljudge？Shallaprivatemanjudge，whenthequestionisofhisownobedience？OrshallanymanjudgebuthethatisappointedtheretobytheChurch，thatis，bythecivilsovereignthatrepresentethit？OrifthePopeoranApostlejudge，mayhenoterrin