by the word of Christ: "When ye shall have done all these
things, say We are unprofitable servants," Luke 17:10. For if
the doors ought to be called unprofitable, how much more
fitting is it to say to those who only believe, When ye shall
have believed all things say, We are unprofitable servants!
This word of Christ, therefore, does not extol faith without
works, but teaches that our works bring no profit to God;
that no one can be puffed up by our works; that, when
contrasted with the divine reward, our works are of no
account and nothing. Thus St. Paul says: "I reckon that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
to the glory which shall be revealed in us," Rom. 8:18. For
faith and good works are gifts of God, whereby, through God's
mercy, eternal life is given. So, too, the citation at this
point from Ambrose is in no way pertinent, since St. Ambrose
is here expressy declaring his opinion concerning legal
works. For he says: "Without the law," but, "Without the law
of the Sabbath, and of circumcision, and of revenge." And
this he declares the more clearly on Rom. 4, citing St. James
concerning the justification of Abraham without legal works
before circumcision. For how could Ambrose speak differently
in his comments from St. Paul in the text when he says:
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh he
justified in his sight?" Therefore, finally, he does not
exclude faith absolutely, but says: "We conclude that a man
is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.


To Article VII.