Excerpt from the Homily on Good Works

Let no man therefore,” saith he, “reckon upon his good works before his faith: where as faith was not, good works were not. The intent,” saith he, “maketh the good works; but faith must guide and order the intent of man.” And Christ saith, [Matt. 6:23.] If thinel eye be naught, thy whole body is full of darkness. “The eye doth signify the intent,” saith St. Augustine,2 “wherewith a man doeth a thing.” So that he which doeth not his good works with a godly intent and a true faith that worketh by love," the whole body beside (that is to say, all the whole number of his works) is dark, and there is no light in it.m For good deeds be not measured by the facts themselves, and so dissevered from vices, but by the ends and intents for the which they be done.o3 If a heathen man clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and do such other like works; yet, because he doeth them not in faith for the honour and love of God, they be but dead, vain, and fruitless works to him.4 Faith is it that doth commend the work to God: “for,” as St. Augustine saith,5 “whether thou wilt or no, that work that cometh not of faith is naught.” Where the faith of Christ is not the foundation, there is no good work, what building soever we make. [Page 2].

Excerpt from the Homily on Good Works