properly Bishops THE CONFERENCE The Scripture expressely saieth that Iudas had the office of a Bishop which an other Apostle tooke The same say Catholiks The Protestants say that Iudas was no Bishop THE SVMME OF THIS CHAPTER OF SAINT Peter and the Apostles Out of that which hath beene rehearsed in this chapter it clearly appeareth that the Protestāts in an other māner describe S. Peter and the Apostles thē the holie Scripture and Catholiks doe For the Scripture and Catholiks teach that S. Peter was first of the Apostles that he was the rock on which Christ built his Church that he had the keyes of the kingdome of heauen that his faith did not faile All which Protestants denie Besides the Scripture and Catholiks say that the Apostles were foundations of the Church were simply to heard without examining their doctrine were sufficient witnesses of trueth learnt diuers things of the holie Ghost All which are denied by Prorestants Moreouer the Scripture and Catholiks say that Iudas was truely a disciple and Apostle of Christ and also a Bishop which Protestants in like manner denie Wherefore Protestants steale from S. Peter his honour that he is the first of the Apostles his authoritie that he is the rock of the Church and his power of the keyes and stedfastnesse of faith And frō the rest of the Apostles they steale that they were foundations of the Church simply to be hearde sufficient witnesses of truth and that they learnt any thing of the holie Ghost CHAPTER VI. OF PASTORS OF THE CHVRCH ART I. WHETHER THERE BE ALwaies pastors of the Church SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. HIEREMIE 33. v. 21. Thus saieth the Lord If my Pastours alwaies couenant with the day can be made voide and my couenant with the night that there be no day and night in their time also my couenant may be made voide with Dauid my seruant that there be not of him a sonne to reigne in his throne and leuites and preists my ministers Ephes 4. v. 12. And he gaue Pastours and Doctours to the consummation of the saintes vnto the worke of the ministeric vnto the edifying of the bodie of Christ vntill we meete all into the vnitie of faith and knowledge of the Sonne of God CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME D. Stapleton in 1. Cor. 15. v. 15. Impious Caluin doth bouldly and often times say that Pastours Doctours Prelats Bishops Maisters of Churches all vniuersally for manie ages haue wholy straied from the Christian trueth and beene seducers PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Luther in psal 129. to 3. The Church vnder Antichrist had no true ministerie Caluin de vera reform p. 322. Not without cause we auouch Not alwaies that for some ages the Church was so torne and scattered that it was destitute of true Pastours And p. 322. I graunt indeed that it can neuer come to passe that the Church perish but when they referre that to Pastours which is promised of the perpetuall continuance of the Church therein they are much deceaued Beza de notis Eccles vol. 3. Forsooth it fell out that the lawfull order was then wholy abolished in the Church as it is manifest that it hath beene now for some ages not so much being left as the smalleste shadow of the cheifest partes of ecclesiasticall vocation Sadeel ad Art abiurat pag. 533. It is false that the externall ministerie must be perpetuall Daneus Controu 3. p. 426. The Church eftsones hath no man Postour And Controu 4. p. 757. The true Church hath ofte wanted Prelats Lukbertus l. 5 de Eccles cap. 5. We say that for some short time the Church may be depriued of Pastours CONFERENCE OF THE FORESAIED WORDS Scripture expressely saieth that there shal be Pastours as long as there shal be day and night that Pastours are giuen vntill we meete all in one faith The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely say that the Church may be depriued of Pastours that Pastours may perish that the ministerie must not be perpetuall that the Church sometime had no true ministerie was for some ages destitute of true Pastors that lawfull order was for some ages quite abolished in the Church not so much as the slēderest shadow of the chiefest partes of ecclesiasticall vocation being left Which are so plaine against Scripture as sometimes Protestants confesse it See l. 2. c. 30. ART II. WHETHER AVTHORITIE of gouerning the Church be in the Pastours them selues SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Matth. 16. v. 18. seq Thou art Peter c. And to thee I will giue Pastours haue authoritie to gouerne the keyes of the kingdome of heauen Actes 20. v. 28. The Holie Ghost hath placed you Bishops to rule the Church of God 1. Cor. 4. v. 21. What will you In a rodde that I come to you or in charitie and the spirit of mildnesse 2. Cor. 13. v. 10. These things I write absente that being present I may not deale hardly according to the power which the Lord hath giuen me And c. 10. v. 6. Hauing in readinesse to reuenge all disobedience 2. Tim. 1. v. 11. I am appointed a preacher and Apostle and Maister of the Gentils Hebrews 13. vers 17. Obey your Prelats and be subiect to them CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME D. Stapleton in Triplicat cont Whitaker c. 13. We see that Paul putteth the authoritie in the Prelats PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Whitaker l. 1. de Script c. 13. sect 12. The authoritie is not Authoritie is not in the Pastours in the Prelats but in the worde for whose administration the Prelats do serue Againe I acknowledge no ruling which the Church hath All the authoritie is in God and in his word the Church hath nothing but mere ministerie Spalatensis l. 5. de Repub c. 2. n. 40. Church gouernours are most like to Phisitiās The Phisitian appointeth holesome things and forbiddeth vnholesome prescribeth diete c. but hath no They haue no iurisdiction iurisdiction or cōmand ouer the sick As it is the Phisitians office to gouerne the sick that is without iurisdiction So it is the office of the ecclesiasticall rectors to gouerne the Church that is the faithfull Caluin 4. Instit c. 8. § 2. We must remember that what authoritie or dignitie the Holie Ghost in the Scripture doth giue to Preists or Prophets or Apostles or Successours of Apostles all that is giuen not properly to the men themselues but to the ministerie whereof they are officers or to speake brefly to the word whose ministerie is committed to them The same he hath in Ioan. 16. v. 8. in Math. 20. v. 25. and in Iacob 4. v. 12. Beza in Math. 20. v. 25. What then will you say Haue the No power at all ouer consciences Ministers of the word of God no power at all None truely they no not ouer cōsciences for instructiō whereof they are appointed But they are legats of Christ to say and doe in his name sacred not ciuill matters who alone hath all right of commanding and
D. Stapleton in Actor 8. v. 17. In these words is descricbed an other Sacrament of the Church different from the baptisme which is called Imposition of hands by reason of the forme which Luke here telleth that the Apostles vsed PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Caluin in Actor 8. v. 17. cit Let vs remember that Imposition Imposition of hands is now a vaine fansie of hands was the instrument of God at what time he bestowed the visible graces of his Spirit vpon his seruants but since the Church hath wanted such riches it is onely a vaine fansie And 4. Institut c. 19. § 6. he calleth Catholiks Stage players because they say they imitate the Apostles in imposing hands vpon those that are baptized Gualterus in Actor 8. homilia 58. We know that out of this place Papists haue brought in the Sacrament of Confirmation but it is so ridiculous as c. THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely saieth that the Apostles imposed their hands vpon those that were baptized The same Catholiks say Protestants expressely say that it is a vaine fansie and ridiculous to impose hands vpon those that are baptized ART V. WHETHER MATRIMONIE be a Sacrament SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Ephesians 5. v. 31. For this cause shall man leaue his father Matrimonie a Sacrament and mother and shall cleaue to his wife and shal be twoe in one flesh This is a great Sacrament but I speake in Christ and in the Church CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Councell of Trent Sess 24. can If anie shall say that Matrimonie is not truely and properly one of the seauen Sacraments of the Euangelicall law instituted by Christ our Lord but inueÌ„ted of men in the Church nor giueth grace be he accursed PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Confessio Heluet. c. 19. We confesse that Matrimonie is a No SacrameÌ„t profitable institution of God but not a Sacrament In like sorte the English Confession art 25. Iewel defens Apolog. p. 185. Marriage of it selfe is nether Of itselfe not good good nor ill Whitaker l. 8. cont Dur. sect 64. What more foolish then to make a Sacrament of Matrimonie Caluin 4. Instit c. 19. § 34. What sober man would euer haue thought that Matrimonie was giuen for a Srcrament And others as we shall see hereafter c. 15. art 2. say that Matrimonie is nothing nor maketh a man any whit the better THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainely saieth that Matrimonie in Christ the Church that is among Christians is a great Sacrament The same say Catholiks Protestants plainely say that Matrimonie is no sacrament that it is follie and madnesse to make it a sacrament that of it selfe it is not good is nothing nor maketh a man better Which contradiction of Scripture is so manifest as same Protestants confesse it See l. 2. c. 30. ART VI. WHETHER ONE WIFE BEING diuorced one may marrie an other SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY DENIETH. Luke 16. vers 18. Euerie one that dimisseth his wife and No marriage after diuorce marrieth an other committeth aduoutrie and he that marrieth her that is dimissed from her husband committeth aduoutrie Marc. 10. v. 11. Whosoeuer dimisseth his wife and marieth an other committeth aduouttie vpon her And if the wife dimisse her husband and marrie an other he committeth aduoutrie v. 6. Which God hath ioyned together let no man separate 1. Cor. 7. v. 10. But to them that be ioyned in matrimonie not I giue commandment but our Lord that the wife departe not from her husband and if she departe to remaine vnmarried or to be reconciled to her husband And. v. 39. A woman is bound to the law so long time as her husband liâ—eth but if her husband sleepe she is at libertie let her marrie to whome she will onely in our Lord. CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY DENIE Councel of Trent Sess 24. Can. 7. If anie shall say that the Church doth erre when it taught and doth teach according to the Euangelicall and Apostolicall doctrine that the bande of Matrimonie caÌ„not be broken for the adulterie of one of the married parties and that nether no not the innocent partie which gaue no cause of the adulterie can marie againe whiles the other partie liueth be he accursed PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY AFFIRMI Willet Controu 15. quaest 2. pag. 782. For fornication our New marriage after fornication Sauiour hath granted libertie both to dissolue matrimonie and to marrie againe Confessio Saxonica cap. 18. Marriage is not forbidden to the innocent partie when the cause being knowne she is pronounced free Confessio Scotica We detest his Popes crueltie against the innocent reiected by diuorce Pseudosynod of Midelburg An. 1581. art 57. If anie for adulterie haue separated himselfe from his wife and will not be reconciled againe with her and desire leaue of a new marriage the Presbyterie the adulterie being first proued shall declare that it is lawfull by the word of God Luther in 1. Cor. 7. to 5. What if the one partie will not be recoÌ„ciled to the other but will abide separated and the other not able to containe should be enforced to marrie what should be doe may he marrie with an other I answere that without doubt And other offences he may Againe If the husband would teach or force his wife to steale to adulterate or committe any other crime against God it is the same reason of diuorce with the other that vnlesse they be reconciled a new marriage may be made Furthermore What if the second marriage did not fall out right that the one partie should vrge the other the husband the wife or contrariewise to liue wickedly like Pagans or if the one would flie from the other vntill the third or fourth marriage were made may he marrie of wife as often as she is such as we haue spoaken of so that he haue at once ten or more fugitiue wiues And againe shall it be lawfull A woman may haue ten husbands liuings for the wife to haue ten or more husbands who all are fled from her I answere that we cannot stoppe S. Pauls mouth who as often as it is needfull will vse his doctrine his words are cleare The like he hath ib. Sermon de matrimonio where also fo 123. he addeth If the Mistresse will not let the Maide come Bidembachius in Consensu Iesuitarum Christian p. 1588. Who reiecting his wife for whordome marieth an other doth not commit adulterie Beza in Confess c. 5. sect 39. To whome diuorce is lawfully Mariage lawfull after diuorce graunted if reconcilement cannot be procured within the time appointed to them we giue leaue to marrie a new And epist 10. he writeth that Bucer and most of the ProtestaÌ„t Churches in Germanie giue leaue to marrie a new for leprosie to whome saieth he we leaue their iudgment free as is reason Perkins de Serm. Dom. to 2. col 261. By reason of whordome Whordome dissolueth mariage marriage is dissolued The same is the common doctrine of Protestants as you may see
conferred by them and ioyned with some humane principle and brought into sillogisticall forme Whereas a Iudge must be such as by himselfe without anie helpe of ether of the parties he can giue sentence Besides the sentence of the Iudge and especiallie if there can be no appeale from him must be so cleare as no man can doubt for whether partie it is But such is not the sentence of Scripture in manie controuersies Agayne there is controuersie betwene vs about diuers bookes of which the rest of the Scripture saieth nothing Finallie before Moises the Church had no Scripture and for sometime after Christ it had no parte of the new testament and yet she neuer wanted a Iudge And as we saw in the Chapter before Protestants confesse that Scripture of it selfe is not sufficient to determine all controuersies of faith and therefore not to iudge all Wherefore we must needs haue some other Iudge For these and the like causes some Protestants seing how absurd it is that Scripture is the onely Iudge in the Church say that Christ or the holie Ghost speaking in the Scripture is the Iudge Whitaker c. 7. cit We say that this Iudge is the holie Ghost speaking in the Scripture In like sorte Confes Heluet. c. 12. Academia Nemaus loc cit Lutherans in Colloq Ratisb sess 9. and others But seing Christ or the holie Ghost is no otherwise in the Scripture then as in a signe of his will to say that the holie Ghost as he is in Scripture is Iudge is no other thing indeed then to say that the Scripture is iudge And as the King as he is in his written laws is not a sufficient iudge of the common wealth because els eueÌ„ after his death he should be iudge but besides there must be a liuing iudge who both heareth and speaketh who can heare the parties and giue senteÌ„ce So nether is the holie Ghost a sufficient iudge is in the holie Scripture Others therefore acknowledge that there must be in the Church a speaking iudge or man For thus Eliensis loc cit Wherefore we all of long time demand a free and lawfull synod Protest admit a liuing Iudge in words And Lutherans in Colloq cit sess 9. We professe that God hath giuen some power to the Ministers and Doctors of the Church to iudge of controuersies of religion Neuerthelesse in trueth they denie the verie nature of the Iudge For ether they will not admit such a Iudge as we are bound to obeyâ— as appeareth by that they denie the vniuersall Church all Pastors or generall Councels to be infallible yea Moulins in the preface of his Bucler saieth that there But not in effect can be no greater temeritie then to desire that men sinners may be infallible iudges of the seÌ„se of the law And the LutheraÌ„s loc cit It is simply and absolutely certaine that the Ministerie may erre But this in trueth is to denie the Iudge whose end is The iudge in the Church admitteth not appeale to make peace and to compose debates which he cannot doe vnlesse men be bound to obey him and all the foresaied authorities reasons which proue that there ought to be a iudge in the Church proue also that he ought to be such from whome we may not appeale Wherevpon Whitaker CoÌ„t 1. q. 5. c. 4. thus writeth I answere that those words Deuteron 17. cit are to be vnderstood of authoritie to define hard contentions and controuersies as Ecclesiasticall by the Minister and politicall by the Magistrate that there might be in both some from whome there should be no appeale els there would be no end of contending But this he meaneth onely in the Nether in outward nor inward Courte externall or outward courte not in the inward courte of conscience For thus he addeth A great weight of iudgement was in the Priest and what he had once determined was good in the externall courte that so controuersies and debates might be ended And Cont. 4. q 1. cap. 2. Controuersies may be brought to the externall Courte and there defined but conscience resteth not in that Courte But this shift is easilie refuted First because the distruction of the externall Courâ—e is without cause deuised in this matter Secondlie because the peace of the Church especially consisteth in the internall courte to wit in faith Wherefore in this Courte we may not appeale from the Iudge of the Church otherwise there would neuer be peace of conscience Thirdly the practise of the Church in the Councell of the Apostles and in other generall Councels sheweth that the Iudge of the Church hath power to end controuersies euen in the inward courte of conscience Finallie if one were bound to obey the iudgement of the Church in the outward Courte and not in the inward it would follow that sometimes he were bound to denie Gods trueth before men to wit if the Church should define against Gods trueth Besides the authoritie of the Church is spirituall and ouer the soule and therefore her power of iudging extendeth it selfe euen to the inwarde Courte of the â—oule Wherefore let this be our 29. argument Whose doctrine in manie and weightie matters doth so contradict the expresse words of Scripture as they dare not admit anie Iudge in the Church they are to be thought to contradict the true sense of the Scripture But such are Protestants Therefore c. CHAPTER XXX THAT PROTESTANTS DOE SOMEtimes confesse that their doctrine doth contradict the holie Scripture THE last proof which we will make to shew that Protestants doe contradict the true sense of Scripture shal be taken from their owne confession wherewith sometimes they confesse it implicitlie sometimes plainelie and expressely Implicitly they confesse it diuers wayes First because they acknowledge that they Protest cannot reconcile their doctrine with the Scripture know not how to reconcile their doctrine with the holie Scripture Luther de seru arbit to 2. fol. 466. How this is iust that he God condemneth those that deserue it not is now incomprehensible yet it is beleiued till the Sonne of man be reuealed Et f. 486. In the light of grace it is vnanswerable how God condemneth him who with all his power can doe nothing but sinne and be guiltie Here both the light of nature and the light of Grace teach that it is not the fault of wretched man but of vniust God Et to 1. f. 390. It is a wonderfull probleme that God rewardeth iustice which himselfe reputeth iniustice Melancthon in Rom. 9. edit 1. This misterie is inexplicable that God both willeth sinnes and yet truelie hateth them Peter Martyr in locis Class 1. c. 16. § 9. It is no meruaile that we cannot vnderstand how it is not contrarie to Gods iustice to punish sinnes and by tempting to enforce them because God can doe more then we can vnderstand Caluin 1. Institut capit 18. § 3. By reason of the weaknesses of our vnderstanding we doe not
grace into Infants Perkins Cathol reform Contr. 16. c. 1. pag. 271. Though a Desire to beleiue is sufficient desire to repent and to beleiue be not faith and repentance in nature yet in Gods acceptation it is God accepting the will for the deed p. 272. Now if any shall say that without a liuelie faith in Christ none can be saued I answere that God accepts the desire to beleiue for liuelie faith in the time of temptation and in the time of our first conuersion p. 273. Certaine it is that God in sundrie cases accepts of this desire to beleiue for true faith indeed See Rogers on the 25. Art p. 147. Zuinglius de Prouidentia to 1. fol. 370. It is not generall Faith not necessarie to saluation that who hath not faith is to be damned Againe As for the damnation of the incredulous they onely are vnderstood who heard and beleiued not of others we cannot iudge De Peccato orig to 2. f 118. That who beleiueth not shal be damned is not to be vnderstood absolutely but of thē who hauing heard the Ghospell would not beleiue Et in Exposit Fidei to 2. fol. 659. Heathens may be saued he saieth that in heauen we shall find Hercules Theseus Numa and such like Pagans and his opinion therein defend the Tigurins in their Confession of faith Bullinger in the Preface thereof Gualter in Praefat. operum Zuinglij in Apologia pro eodem And the same doctrine of the saluation of Pagans mantayne Erasmus Thommer Hardenberg Tossanus and other Protestants as Schlusselburg reporteth l. 3. Theol. Caluin art 7. Bucer in Math. 19. Furthermore out of that that Infants Infants saued without faith want faith nothing lesse is concluded then which some thinke that therefore they please not God nor are Saintes Musculus in locis tit de baptismo Infants are saued by Gods election albeit they be taken out of this life not onely without baptisme but also without faith Caluin in Math. 19. v. 14. That they auouch that we are no other waies reconciled to God and made heires of adoption then by faith that we confesse of such as are of discretion but for so much as pertaineth to infants this place conuinceth it to be false Et 4. Instit c. 16. § 29. 31. li. cont Seruet p. 647. he writeth that that sentence Euerie one that beleiueth not the Sōne of God abideth in death belongeth not to infants Beza in Colloq Montisbel p. 407. Albeit the children of Christans want faith yet is not baptisme vnprofitable to them Daneus Controuers de Baptismo c. 10. He asketh what No faith needfull to Infants faith it is which we require in the baptisme of Infants I answere None Peter Martyr in Schlusselburg l. 1. Theol. Caluin art 18. The children of faithfull parents are saintes by the mere mercie of God though they haue not true faith in Christ Hungari apud Grauer in Absurdis Caluin cap. 4. sect 25. The children of Christians cannot be properly saied to haue faith yet all that are predestinate amongst them are saued and obtaine the kingdome of heauen THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely saieth that who beleiueth not shal be condemned is already iudged shall not see life that the wrath of God abideth vpon him and that it is impossible to please God without faith The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely say that Christ dwelleth in Infants though they haue no faith that they please God are saued are Saintes without faith that the sentence of condemnation against incredulous belongeth nether to infants nor to such as haue not heard the Ghospell that a man may be saued with desire of faith though he haue no faith indeed that in diuers cases God accepteth the desire of faith for liuelie faith that diuers Pagās are saued Which are so contrarie to Scripture as diuers Protestants confesse it See lib. 2. c. 30. ART XVI WHETHER FAITH DO INdeed iustifie or be a true cause of iustification SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. The holie Scripture in the places cited before artic 14. Faith is a true cause of Iustification and Saluatiō saieth that we are iustified by faith receaue remission of sinnes by faith liue of faith are saued by faith CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Councel of Trent Sess 6. cap. 8. Faith is the beginning of mans saluation the foundation and roote of all iustification CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Confessio Belgica art 22. Properly speaking we meane not Faith it selfe doth not iustifie that faith it selfe by it selfe or of it selfe doth iustifie vs as which is onely as it were an instrument with which we apprehend Christ our iustice Whitaker ad Demonstrat 10. Sanderi Faith is not cause No cause of saluation of our saluation Perkins in Galat. 3. Faith doth not cause worke or procure Saluation dependeth not of faith our Saluation In Serie causarum cap. 57. Saluation dependeth not of our faith The same hath Sutclife cited art 14. Illyricus in Claue Scriptur part 2. tract 6. col 551. Faith the word and Sacraments are saied to saue vs whereas God alone doth such things col 552. It is often saied Thy faith hath made thee safe whereas the onely mercie of God and his omnipotencie apprehended by faith doth that Whereupon he addeth that Faith no true cause saluation in the Scripture Effects are often times attributed to not true or not to principall causes Zuinglius in Elencho to 2. f. 34. Here is a diffcultie Hou faith doth make blessed or iustifieth But whatsoeuer seemeth hard to loose flieth a sunder with a small stroke of the figure synechdoche For faith is taken for the election the predestination and vocation of God all which goe before faith Bucanus in Instit Theol. loco 31. Nether the worke nor act Faith doth not iustifie vs of faith doth iustifie vs but Christ himselfe whome we apprehend by faith Pareus l. 1. de Iustif c. 17. It cannot be saied with out plaine absurditie and falsitie that we are iustified by faith or out of faith as by an efficient or formall cause Againe By no means that efficiencie or vertue of iustifying can be ascribed to faith without absurditie and falsitie Tilenus in Syntagmate c. 41. This speech Faith doth iustifie vs is figuratiue and metonymicall and hath this sense God iustifieth the beleiuer for the merit of Christ which the beleiuer by onely faith apprehēdeth c. 56. Baptisme goeth before saluatiō but causeth it not which we giue not to faith properly but onely metaleptically THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainely saieth that Faith truely causeth iustification and saluation The same say Catholiks Protestants plainely say that faith is no cause of our saluation nether worketh not procureth our saluation that our saluation dependeth not vpon our faith that faith doth not iustifie vs that without absurditie and falsitie it cannot be saied faith is ether efficient or formall cause of iustification or hath vertue of iustifying ART XVII
that there is any reward of faith or workes but c. Caluin in Antidoto Concilij sess 6. c. 17. That they make No reward euerlasting life a reward in that I dissent from them 3. Instit c. 21. § 1. Saluation cometh to vs by the mere liberalitie of God He Mere liberalitie saueth of his mercie good pleasure and repaieth not a reward l. 18. § 3. Let them know that they haue receaued a guift of grace Not a reward not a reward of workes In Ephes 2. v. 8. That he saueth is mere grace not a reward or retribution Bucer in Math. 5. The things which come to vs from God Free guift are no reward but his free guifts Peter Martyr in Roman 4. Euerlasting life may haue some Farre from the nature of reward resemblance of reward but is farre distant from the nature thereof Wherefore euerlasting life cannot be called a reward but by some resemblance Piscator in Thesibus loco 16 If properly speaking life euerlasting If there were reward there were Merit were a reward surely we should merit it by good workes Wherefore it remaineth that life euerlasting be called a reward by a figure Luther apud Scioppium in Ecclesiast c. 67. If I saw heauē open and could merit it by taking vp a straw from the ground yet would I not take vp the straw CONFERENCE OF THE FORESAIED WORDS Scripture plainely saieth that euerlasting life is giuen according to workes and in that manner of speach as it saith that wrath and indignation is giuen according to workes that there is very great reward in heauen that we shall receaue the retribution or reward of inheritāce The same say Catholiks Protestants plainely say that euerlasting life is no retribution or reward that it is farre from the nature of reward that all the promises made in the Scripture to workes are hyperbols or ouerlashings of speach that is improperly a reward abusiuely a reward that it deserueth not the name of reward Which are so contrarie to Scripture as sometimes Protestants confesse it See lib. 2. c. 30. ART II. WHETHER LIFE EVERLASTING be a Crowne of Iustice SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. 2. Tim. 4. v. 7. 8. I haue fought a good fight I haue consummate Heauenlie reward is a crowne of iustice my course I haue kept the faith Concerning the rest there is laid vp for me a crowne of iustice which our Lord will render me at that day a iust iudge CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME D. Stapleton l. 9. de Iustif c. 3. The Scriptures most manifestly shew that happines is a reward of iustice promised of God PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Perkins refor Catholik Contr. 5. p. 109. We must acknowledge life eternall to be euerie way the guift of God p. 108. It is a free guift Caluin 3. Instit c. 15. § 4. Beatitude it selfe is the mere goodnesse Of mere liberalitie of God c. 21. § 1. Saluation cometh to vs of the mere liberalitie of God In Rom. 6. v. vlt. Hence we gather that our saluation is wholy from Gods grace and mere goodnesse In 2. Tim. 2. v. 12. Paul acknowledgeth nothing in the whole cause of saluation Of mere grace but mere grace of God In Antidoto Concil sess 6. It cometh to vs by no other Title then of free adoption Beza in Confess c. 4. sect 7. We professe that euerlasting By not title but of free adoption life is wholy and in all partes the free guift of God lib. quaest vol. 1. p. 655. Wholy of his mere grace doth he giue vs the benefit of eternall life Bucer in Epitome doctrinae Argentinen Euerlasting life remaineth mere grace Zuinglius in Exposit fidei tom 2. f. 558. Eternall happines cometh by the onely grace and liberalitie of God Bullinger Decade 3. Serm. 9. None is so sottish as he vnderstandeth Wholy and merely of grace not that the whole benefit of saluation is attributed wholy and merely to grace THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainely saieth that euerlasting life is a crowne of iustice to be giuē to him that hath fought a good fight and consummated his course and that of a iust iudge The same say Catholiks Protestants plainely say that life euerlasting is mere grace mere goodnesse in all partes a free guift that it cometh to vs of mere goodnesse not otherwise then by mere guift by no other Title then of free adoption Wholy of mere grace that it is nothing but mere grace that S. Paul acknowledgeth nothing in all the course of saluatiō but mere grace Which is so contrarie to Scripture as some Protestants confesse it See lib. 2. c. 30. ART III. WHETHER SALVATION OR eternall life be of faith onely SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY DENIETH. Iames 2. vers 14. What shall it profit my brethren if a man Saluation no◠of faith onely say he hath faith but hath not workes Shall faith be able to saue him Philippen 2. vers 12. With feare and trembling worke your Saluation is to be wrought of vs. saluation CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY DENIE C. Bellarm. l. 4. de Iustif c. 7. We say that good workes are necessarie to a iust man to saluation not onely in manner of pre-presence but also of efficiencie because they worke saluation and without them faith alone worketh not saluation PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Perkins in Gal. 3. to 2. col 157. They are deceaued who say Workes no cause of salua Faith onely saueth Workes not profitable to saluation that faith and workes concurre as causes of saluation Luther de votis to 2. fol. 273. Faith alone saueth fol. 279. This is the summe of summes Workes and vowes can nether be taught nor perswaded vnlesse we say that they be holesom and profitable to iustice and saluation But to teach that they are holesome is diuelish and Apostasie from faith because faith alone is necessarie and holesome ib. de Captiuit Baby l. f. 78. It is certaine Faith alone is holesome that none of them was saued by his vowes and religion but onely by faith in which we all are saued Postilla in die Ascensionis Workes helpe nothing to saluation It is enough to haue faith Faith alone by it selfe and without any workes saueth vs and workes do nothing at all to pietie or saluation In Dom. post Ascens Faith deliuereth from the Diuel hell sinne and all misfortune which if we haue it is enough Ministers in Saxonie in Colloq Aldeburg p. 162. Whosoeuer teacheth that eternall life is giuen for good workes he departeth from the word of God the Confession of Auspurg and Life not giuen for workes the Apologie Thou shall neuer read in the Scripture that eternall life is giuen for good workes Liber Concordiae c. 3. p. 691. By faith alone we are iustified before God and saued 694. But this errour also is to be reiected when it is taught That a man is any other way or by anie other thing saued then by