He, therefore, that endeavors to attain to these things by works shutteth the way to the gospel, to faith, grace, Christ, God, and all things that help unto salvation.  Again, nothing is necessary in order to accomplish good works but justification; and he that hath attained it performs good works, and not any other.  Hereof it sufficiently appears that the beginning, the things following, and the order of man’s salvation are after this sort; first of all it is required that thou hear the Word of God; next that thou believe; then that thou work; and so at last become saved and happy.  He that changes this order, without doubt is not of God.  Paul also describes this, saying, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and, how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and, how shall they hear without a preacher? and, how shall they preach except they be sent?”

Christ teaches us to pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest; that is, sincere preachers.  When we hear these preach the true Word of God, we may believe; which faith justifies a man, and makes him godly indeed, so that he now calls upon God in the spirit of holiness, and works nothing but that which is good, and thus becomes a saved man.  Thus he that believeth shall be saved; but he that worketh without faith is condemned; as Christ saith, he that doth not believe shall be condemned, from which no works shall deliver him.  Some say, I will now endeavor to become honest.  It is meet surely that we study to lead an honest life, and to do good works.  But if one ask them how we may apply ourselves unto honesty, and by what means we may attain it, they answer, that we must fast, pray, frequent temples, avoid sins, etc.  Whereby one becomes a Carthusian monk, another chooses some other order of monks, and another is consecrated a priest; some torment their flesh by wearing hair-cloth, others scourge their bodies with whips, others afflict themselves in a different manner; but these are of Cain’s progeny, and their works are no better than his; for they continue the same that they were before, ungodly, and without justification:  there is a change made of outward works only, of apparel, of place, etc.

They scarce think of faith, they presume only on such works as seem good to themselves, thinking by them to get to heaven.  But Christ said, “Enter in at the strait gate, for I say unto you, many seek to enter in, and can not.”  Why is this? because they know not what this narrow gate is; for it is faith, which altogether annihilates or makes a man appear as nothing in his own eyes, and requires him not to trust in his own works, but to depend upon the grace of God, and be prepared to leave and suffer all things.  Those holy ones of Cain’s progeny think their good works are the narrow gate; and are not, therefore, extenuated or made less, whereby they might enter.