But then they add to this
that all his reward shall be given him for his faith alone and
nothing for his works at all, because his faith is the thing, they
say, that forceth him to work well. I will not strive with them for
this matter now. But yet I trust to the great goodness of God, that
if the question hang on that narrow point, since Christ saith in
the scripture in so many places that men shall in heaven be
rewarded for their works, he shall never suffer our souls--who are
but mean-witted men and can understand his words only as he himself
hath set them and as old holy saints have construed them before and
as all Christian people this thousand year have believed--to be
damned for lack of perceiving such a sharp subtle thing. Especially
since some men who have right good wits, and are beside that right
well learned, too, can in no wise perceive for what cause or why
these folk who take away the reward from good works and give that
reward all whole to faith alone, give the reward to faith rather
than to charity. For this grant they themselves, that faith serveth
of nothing unless she be accompanied by her sister charity. And
then saith the scripture, too, "Of these three virtues, faith,
hope, and charity, of all these three, the greatest is charity."
And therefore it seemeth as worthy to have the thanks as faith.
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