¶Workes before Iustification.
Works Before Grace
Works done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of his Spirit are not pleasing to God, lack faith, and bear the nature of sin.
Works done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of his Spirit are not pleasing to God, because they don't spring from faith in Jesus Christ; neither do they make people fit to receive grace, or (as the schoolmen say) deserve grace of congruity. But because they aren't done as God has willed and commanded them to be done, we don't doubt that they have the nature of sin.1
Read the original English
VUorks done before the grace of Christ, and the inspiration of his spirite, are not plesaūt to God: forasmuch as they spring not of Faithe in Iesu Christ: neither do they make menne mete to receiue Grace, or (as the Scholeaucthours saie) deserue Grace of congruitie: but because they are not done as God hath willed and commaūded them to be done, we doubte not, but they haue the nature of sinne.
Notes
- 1 ↩"Grace of congruity" renders the scholastic meritum de congruo: a supposed fitness by which unaided works were said to make a person suitable for grace, short of strict desert (meritum de condigno).
John Ponet's Short Catechisme (1553) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit