After I had had a talk with these clergy on the topic of justification by faith alone, they were asked,

(1) What did they understand by 'good works'? 'Did they mean simply the kind the Roman Catholics enjoined, or did they mean also the works of the second table of the Decalogue! They answered that they meant both.

(2) They were asked if the works of that table of the Decalogue contributed anything towards salvation. Their reply was, Nothing; though those works had to be done because they were commandments.

(3) They were asked, Was it pleasing to God if a man did them? They replied that it was, as long as men placed no merit in them.

(4) They were asked how they understood these passages in the Word - He that keeps the commandments loves God and is loved by God; passages about good fruit; about the works according to which man is to be judged; and many other passages? They answered that the works followed from faith.

(5) How, they were asked, from faith? Was it in this way that man would accomplish those works, or should it be believed that God accomplished them through man! They replied that man in his own strength would accomplish them because they were works of civil life, and God had no part in them.

(6) Asked if these were the good works that followed faith, they answered, Yes.

(7) They were asked, How can those works follow faith when there is not a thing from God in them, but only from man, and consequently no link exists between the faith and the works. Their answer was, that man's sins are remitted through the imputation of faith, and then whatever man does is good in God's sight; so, those works are good.

(8) They were asked, Since all sins are remitted through faith, does anyone need to repent? They replied that people could if they wished, but it was of no consequence to eternal life, only to life in the world.

(9) Then, asked how good works followed faith, they answered, Like the fruit of a good tree.

(10) They were asked, Does faith produce good works in a similar manner to a tree bearing fruit! They said that by the fruit of a good tree, they meant all the works men performed after they had received faith because they were good in God's sight.

(11) They were asked whether good works adhered to faith as the fruit adhered to the tree. They answered, Not like that.

(12) They were then asked if there was any link between good works and faith, and they replied, None.

The outcome of this conversation was the conclusion that the expression 'Good works follow faith like the fruit on a tree' was only a saying, and nothing more.