NECESSARY DOCTRINE
Thomas Cranmer
Thomas
Cramner, Archbishop of Canterbury, was the author of the original Articles of Religion of
the Church of England (1553).
"To know how we obtain our justification, it is expedient to
consider, first, how naughty and sinful we are all, that be of Adam’s
kindred; and contrariwise, what mercifulness is in God, which to all
faithful and penitent sinners pardoneth all their offences for Christ’s
sake. Of these two things no man is lightly ignorant that ever hath
heard of the fall of Adam, which was to the infection of all his
posterity; and again, of the inexplicable mercy of our heavenly Father,
which sent his only begotten Son to suffer his most grievous passion
for us, and shed his most precious blood, the price of our redemption.
But it is greatly to be wished and desired, that as all Christian men
do know the same, so that every man might acknowledge and undoubtedly
believe the same to be true and verified, even upon himself; so that
both he may humble himself to God and knowledge himself a miserable
sinner not worthy to be called his son; and yet surely trust, that to
him being repentant God’s mercy is ready to forgive. And he that seeth
not these two things verified in himself, can take no manner of
emolument and profit by acknowledging and believing these things to be
verified in others. But we cannot satisfy our minds or settle our
conscience that these things are true, saving that we do evidently see
that God’s word so teacheth us. The commandments of God lay our faults
before our eyes, which putteth us in fear and dread, and maketh us see
the wrath of God against our sins, as St. Paul saith, Per legem agnitio
peccati, et, Lex iram operatur, and maketh us sorry and
repentant, that
ever we should come into the displeasure of God, and the captivity of
the Devil. The gracious promises of God by the mediation of Christ
showeth us, (and that to our great relief and comfort,) whensoever we
be repentant...we have forgiveness of our sins, [are] reconciled to
God, and accepted, and reputed just and righteous in his sight, only by
his grace and mercy, which he doth grant and give unto us for his
dearly beloved Son’s sake, Jesus Christ; who paid a sufficient ransom
for our sins; whose blood doth wash away the same; whose bitter and
grievous passion is the only pacifying oblation, that putteth away from
us the wrath of God his Father; whose sanctified body offered on the
cross is the only sacrifice of sweet and pleasant savour, as St. Paul
saith: that is to say, of such sweetness and pleasantness to the
Father, that for the same he accepteth and reputeth of like sweetness
all them that the same offering doth serve for. These benefits of God
with innumerable other, whosoever expendeth, and well pondereth in his
heart, and thereby conceiveth a firm trust and feeling of God’s mercy,
whereof springeth in his heart a warm love and fervent heat of zeal
towards God, it is not possible but that he shall fall to work, and be
ready to the performance of all such works as he knoweth to be
acceptable unto God. And these works only which follow our
justification, do please God; for so much as they proceed from an heart
endued with pure faith and love to God. But the works which we do
before our justification, be not allowed and accepted before God,
although they appear never so good and glorious in the sight of man.
For after our justification only begin we to work as the law of God
requireth. Then we shall do all good works willingly, although not so
exactly as the law requireth by mean of infirmity of the flesh.
Nevertheless, by the merit and benefit of Christ, we being sorry that
we cannot do all things no more exquisitely and duly, all our works
shall be accepted and taken of God, as most exquisite, pure, and
perfect. Now they that think they may come to justification by
performance of the law, by their own deeds and merits, or by any other
mean than is above rehearsed, they go from Christ, they renounce his
grace: Evacuati estis a Christo,
saith St. Paul, Gal. v., quicunque,
in
lege, judificamini, a gratia excidistis. They be not partakers
of the
justice, that he hath procured, or the merciful benefits that be given
by him. For St. Paul saith a general rule for all them that will seek
such by-paths to obtain justification; those, saith he, which will not
knowledge the justness or righteousness which cometh by God, but go
about to advance their own righteousness, shall never come to that
righteousness which we have by God (Rom. 10:1-4); which is the
righteousness of Christ: by whom only all the saints in heaven, and all
other that have been saved, have been reputed righteous, and justified.
So that to Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer, on whose righteousness
both their and our justification doth depend, is to be transcribed all
the glory thereof".