A Key (Penn)/Section IX

by William Penn

OF GOOD WORKS

Perversion 13: Thus it is the Quakers set up works and meriting by works, whereby justification by faith in Christ is laid aside.

Principle: By no means. But they say with the Apostle James, that the true faith in Christ cannot be without works, any more than a body can live without a spirit; and that where there is no life there is no motion, and where there is no Divine life and motion, there can be no true faith, believing being a fruit of Divine life. And no sooner is true faith begotten in a soul, but it falls to working, which is both the nature, and in some respects, the end of it.

Nor yet do we say that our very best works, proceeding from the true faith itself, can merit. No, nor faith joined with them, because eternal life is the gift of God. All that man is capable of believing or performing can never be said to merit everlasting blessedness, because there can be no proportion between the best works in the life of man and eternal felicity. Wherefore, all that man can do, even with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, can never be said strictly to merit as a debt due to the creature. But on the other hand, that right faith and good works which arise out of it or will follow it, may and do obtain the blessed immortality which it pleases God to give and to privilege the sons of men with who perform the necessary condition, is a Gospel and necessary truth. And this the Quakers ground upon, and therefore boldly affirm to the world.

So that they deny all merit from the best of works, especially such as some conceive to be meritorious. But as they on one hand deny the meritoriousness of works, so on the other hand neither can they join in that lazy faith that works not out the salvation of the soul. Blessed is he that hears Christ's words and does them. Wherefore, it shall be said at the last day, not well professed, but "well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord, thou holy liver that lovedst me above all, and thy neighbor as thyself. enter, For thee and such as thou art was it prepared from the foundation of the world." Which recompense of his faithfulness is the infinite love of God revealed and given to man through Christ. For though the wages of sin be death, yet the gift of God is eternal life to such.

So that the people called Quakers do not hold that their good works justify them; for though none are justified that are not in some measure sanctified, yet all that man does is duty, and therefore cannot blot out old scores, for that is more grace and favor, upon repentance, through Christ the Sacrifice and Mediator. So that men are not justified because they are sanctified, but for His sake that sanctifies them, and works all their good works in them and for them, and presents them blameless, that is Christ Jesus, who is made unto them, as He was to the saints of old, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, that he that glorieth might glory in the Lord.