Infants are saued by Gods election albeit they be taken out of this life not only without baptisme but also without faith See more art 15. Scripture What shall it profit if a man say he hath faith but hath not workes Shall his faith be able to saue him Protestants Faith iustifieth without good workes Faith void of good workes is imputed to iustice See more art 17. Scripture Whosoeuer beleiueth that Iesus is Christ is borne of God Abraham beleiued and it was imputed him to iustice Protestants Faith doth not iustifie vs by the worke beleife Not iustifieth See more art 18. Scripture To him that beleiueth in him who iustifieth the Faith reputed to iustice impious his faith is reputed to iustice Protestants The act of beleiuing is not our iustice Not the Not reputed act or worke of our faith that is our beleife iustifieth vs. See more art 19 Scripture Of the Princes also manie beleiued in him but for Certaine princes beleiued They beleiued not Manie beleiued They beleiued not Faith cause of Saluation Not cause thereof SimoÌ„ Magus beleiued He beleiued not Faith by hearing Not by hearing the Pharises they did not confesse Protestants We do not graunt that thoses Princes had true faith We denie that they truely beleiued See more art 20. Scripture Ihon. 2. Manie beleiued in his name Protestants Their faith was not true but hypocrisie See art 20. cit Scripture Thy faith hath made thee safe Protestants Faith doth not worke cause or procure our Saluation See more art 16. Scripture Simon Magus also him selfe beleiued Protestants Some beleiue not at all as Simon Magus He was quite faithlesse indeed he beleiued not See more art 21. Scripture Faith is by hearing Protestants Faith cometh not by the labour of the preachers Faith riseth of the Scripture alone not of the authoritie of the Church Faith can not be gotten by words See more articul 22. Scripture For a time they beleiue and in time of temptation Faith some time lost they reuolt Protestants True faith can neuer be lost It cannot be by Neuer lost anie means that those who beleiue should leese their faith See more art 23. Scripture reporteth that Christ saied to Thomas Be S. Thomas faith not incredulous but faithfull And that Thomas saied Vnlesse I see c. I will not beleiue Protestants Faith was not vtterly extinct in Thomas Faith He lost it not lay in his hart See more art 23. cit Scripture He that beleiueth in the Sonne hath life euerlasting Faith rewarded Protestants There is noe reward to faith No reward can be Not rewarded rendred to faith See art 24. Scripture Reporteth that Christ saied to the woman The womans faith pure who touched the hem of his garment Thy faith hath made the safe Protestants It may be that some errour or vice was mingled Not pure with the womans faith Perhaps she slipt a litle out of the way See more art 25. CHAPTER XIV OF GOOD VVORKES IN GENERAL SCripture saieth to a sinner beleiuing that there is one Some workes of a sinner good God Thou doest well and Rahab the harlot was not she iustified by workes Protestants VVhat workes soeuer goe before iustification None good are euill What can sinners alienated from God doe but is execrable in his iudgment See more art 1. Scripture In all these things Iob sinned not with his lips The iust sinne not in euerie worke In euerie worke Good workes sweet before God Vnsweet Protestants The iust man sinneth in euerie good worke All saints in euerie good worke do sinne See more art 2. Scripture Noë offered holocaustes vpon the altar and our lord smelled a sweell sauour Protestants Our workes stincke before God if they be called to a strait account Whatsoeuer we can giue to God is stenchie See more art 3. Scripture Remember how I haue walked before thee in trueth Some workes perfect and in a perfect hart Protestants All our good workes are imperfect They are None perfect partely euill See more art 4. Scripture Phinees stood and pacified and the slaughter ceased Some workes iust before God None iust before hmi and it was reputed to him vnto iustice Protestants Who make their workes euen those which they imagin to doe by the grace of Christ iustice before God make idols of them See more art 5. Scripture What is our hope or ioye or crowne of glorie Are Glorie before God not you before our lord Iesus in his coming Protestants It can not be that anie haue glorie before God Not glorie before him See more art 9. Scripture He who ioyneth his virgin in matrimonie doth Some workes better then others None better then others Some workes counselled None counselled well and he who ioyneth not doth better Protestants Before God there is no worke better then other See more art 10. Scripture As concerning virgins a commandment of our Lord I haue not but counsell I giue Protestants There are not some precepts and others counsells See more art 11. Scripture If you will not forgiue men nether will your Father Some workes necessarie to forgiuenesse Not necessarie forgiue you your offenses Protestants The pardon which we aske to be giuen to vs dependeth not vpon that which we giue to others See more artic 12. Scripture Patience is necessarie for you that doing the will Some necessarie to saluauation Not necessarie Some profitable None profitable of God you may receaue the promise Protestants Good workes are not necessarie to saluation See more art 13. Scripture Pietie is profitable to all things hauing promise of the life that now is and of that to come Protestants To teach that workes are holesome and profitable is diuellish and apostaticall from faith workes are vnprofitable to Christian iustice and likewise to saluation See more art 14. Scripture Be ye in nothing terrified of the aduersaries which Affliction cause of saluation to them is cause of perdition but to you of saluation and this of God Protestants The Scripture no where teacheth that the afflictions Not cause of saluation which the Saints suffer of the wicked are cause of their saluation See more art 15. Scripture Possesse you the kingdome prepared for you For I Workes cause of enioying heauen Not cause was an hungred and you gaue me to eate Protestants None shal be saued for his workes The kingdome of heauen is not giuen for good workes The iust are not rewarded for the workes of iustice which they haue done See more art 15. cit Scripture Labour that by good workes you may make sure Workes make cerâ—aintie of saluation They make it not your vocation and election Protestants We are vtterly vndone if we be sent to our workes when we must seeke the certaintie of our saluation See more art 16. Workes cause that God loueth vs. Not cause Scripture The Father him selfe loueth you
de Mysterio Trinit to 1. fol. 418. God exacteth Iustice of the the law is dung before God Vncleane the ciuill iustice of the law and in earnest commandeth it though he know that before him it is dung Wigandus in Methodo Doctrinae c. 12. Our good workes are vncleane are dung Vrbanus Regin in Interpr loc com to 1. f. 43. Our workes Filthie generally art filthie Illyricus in Claue Scripturae part 2. tract 6. saieth that Our workes are rifraffe or outcasts vertly vncleane and that they need cleansing Schlusselburg to 7. Catal. Haeret. p. 55. Paul will haue all his righteousnesse to be accounted reiected and contemned as dung and outcasts and Isaias a defiled cloute Caluin in Refut Serueti p. 651. Whē I teach that workes are Stinke before God alwaies mingled as it were with some dreggs so that they stincke before God if they be called to a streit account he saieth that I blaspheme against the Spirit The like he hath de vera Ref. p. 317. Et 3. Instit c. 14. § 16 The Scripture teacheth that all our iustices do stincke in the sight of God vnlesse they draw some good smell from the innocencie of Christ Et c. 12. § 4. Workes if they be iudged according to their worth are nothing but pollution and filth Et concione 158. in Iob Whatsoeuer we can giue to God is stenchie Bucer in Epitome Doctrinae Argent art 9. All Saints account for nothing and dung what good soeuer they did Pareus l. 1. de Iust c. 19. The Apostle simply opposeth the iustice of faith or by faith or the iustice of Christ and God with which alone he wil be found in Gods iudgment against all his workes present past and to come accoūting them all farre lesse for nothing for dung Againe Hitherto the Apostle casting away all his workes as dung is no more blasphemous then the whole Propheticall Church was blasphemous calling all her iustices a defiled cloute which is as filthie a thing Let Bellarmin goe now and crie blasphemies that we call his workes and iustices dung Et l. 2. c. 12. saieth That inherent iustices euen in the state of grace are filth euen all in the rigour of Gods iudgment THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely faieth that the good workes of the Iust are a sweet odour a most sweet odour a smoake of incense before God The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely say that the good workes of the Iust in the sight of God are filth dung nothing but pollution filth and dung that they are stenchie do stinck before God if they be thoroughly examined that inherent iustices are filth ART IV. WHETHER THE GOOD workes of the Iust be perfectly wholy and intirely good SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Isaie 38. v. 3. Ezechias praieth in these words I beseech Ezechias walked in a perfect hart thee Lord remember I pray thee how I haue walked before thee in trueth and in a perfect hart and haue done that which is good in thine eyes 3. Reg. 11. vers 4. Nether was his hart perfect with our Lord Also Dauid his God as the hart of Dauid his father cap. 15. vers 4. Because Dauid had done right in the eyes of our Lord. 1. Ioan. 4. v. 12. If we loue one an other God abideth in vs and Charitie perfiled his charitie in vs is perfited c. 2. v. 5. But he that keepeth his word in him in verie deed charitie of God is perfited CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME C. Bellarm. l. 4. de Iustif c. 10. All Catholiks teach that the workes of the iust are simply and absolutely iust and in their manner perfect though not in that perfection but that they may increase PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Whitaker l. 8. cont Dureum sect 89. There is no intire good No intire good in this life of ours in this life l. 9. sect 34. Our workes are manie waies vitious and are not answerable to the perfection of Gods law Ad Ration 8. Campiani In euerie action of man though notable Some vice in euerie act there is some vice which wholy marreth the action and maketh it odious to God if it be examined by the weight of his iustice Perkins in Gal. 5. ver 17. The workes of the regenerate are in In parte euill parte euill Confessio Wittembergens c. de Bonis operibus All the Imperfect good workes which we doe are imperfect nor one can bear the seueritie of Gods iudgment Confessio Augustana c. de operibus The new obedience is farre from the perfection of the law And Apologia eiusdem cap. de Implet legis Our workes are vncleane and need mercie Confessio Heluet. c. 16. There are manie thinges vnworthie Haue manie imperfections of God and very manie imperfections are found in the workes of Saints The like hath Confessio Belgica art 14. and Scotica Defiled art 15. Luther in Gen. 15. to 6. Thy workes are alwaies defiled imperfect and polluted Kemnice 1. part Exam. tit de Iustif Inherent iustice in this life is onely begunne imperfect and vncleane Zuinglius in Marci 10. tom 4. In the iudgment of God all Impure our workes though neuer so good wil be found impure and vncleane Peter Martyr in 1. Cor. 7. ver 19. We do nothing how good Spotted and holie soeuer it seeme to be which indeed is not spotted with manie vices Againe As workes come from vs they are disgraced with infinit filth Caluin l. de lib. arb p. 141. There was neuer anie good worke Lame which euerie way pure and perfect wholy wanted any spot In Math. 5. v. 12. What good worke soeuer cometh from the best mē is lame and vitious In Actor 6. v. 11. The workes of Saints haue alwaies some fault mingled with them The like he hath often times Beza in Confess cap. 4. sect 19. So great is Gods goodnesse that he doth not onely not dislike our workes though most imperfect but also so farre alloweth them as he vouchsafeth them reward Vrsinus in Catechismo q. 62. Our best workes in this life are imperfect and consequently defiled with sinne Pareus lib. 4. de Iustif cap. 10. They proue that the workes of Saints are imperfect and consequently sinnes c. 15. The workes of the Iust haue an imperfect goodnesse their goodnesse whatsoeuer is polluted with the filth of our flesh like as water passing through a filthie channell Et Prooemio in l. 5. The good workes of the iust are not absolutely good but alwaies polluted with inhabiting sinne THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely teacheth that the good workes of the Iust are good and right in the eyes of God that the charitie of those who loue one an other and keepe Gods word is perfect that Ezechias walked before God in a perfect hart that Dauids hart was perfect before God The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely teach rhat the good workes of the Iust are farre from perfection that there are manie imperfections in
but matter of doubting and despairing that if we looke to them we must not onely doubt but despaire of saluation ART XVII WHETHER GOOD WORKES be a cause why God loueth vs SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Ioan. 16. v. 27. For the Father himselfe loueth you because God loueth vs because we loue Christ Because we keepe his cōmandments you haue loued me and haue beleiued that I comeforth from God cap. 15. ver 10. If you keepe my precepts youe hall abide in my loue as I also haue kept my Fathers precepts and do abide in his loue Act. 10. v. 36. In euerie nation he that feareth him and worketh iustice is acceptable to him CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME D. Stapleton in Ioan. 16. v. 27. Christ plainely saieth that his disciples loue was a cause why God loued them with this kind of loue PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Caluin in Ioan. 15. v. 10. The obedience which the faithfull Good workes no cause of Gods loue towards vs. giue to him is not so much a cause why he continueth his loue towards them as an effect of his loue Et in cap. 16. v. 17. We are here saied to be loued of God whiles we loue Christ because we haue a pledge of his fatherlie loue THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainely teacheth that God loueth vs because we loue and beleiue in Christ that God continueth his loue towards vs if we keepe his commandments The same say Catholiks Protestants plainely say that our obedience is no cause why God continueth his loue towards vs that we are not loued of God because we loue Christ ART XVIII WHETHER WE OVGHT to do good workes SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Luc. 17. v. 10. When you shall haue done all things that are We ought to doe good workes commanded you say we are vnprofitable seruants we haue done that which we ought to do 1. Ioan 2. v. 6. He that saieth he abideth in him ought euen as he walked himselfe also to walke Et c. 3. v. 16. And we ought to yeeld our liues for the brethren Et c. 4. ver 11. If God hath so loued vs we also ought to loue one an other CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Councel of Trent Sess 6. Can. 20. If anie shall say that a man iustified and neuer so perfect is not bound to the keeping of the commandments of God and the Church but onely to beleiue be he accursed PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Tindal cited in Caluinoturcismo l. 4. c. 22. Thou owest nothing We owe nothing to God but faith to God but faith that thou maest confesse Christ Iesus and beleiue him to haue risen from the dead for so thou shalt be safe in all other things God hath made it free to the to follow thine owne will Luther Postilla in Dom. 3. Aduentus f. 39. All workes besides God requireth nothing but faith Workes are indifferent faith are to be done to our neighbour because God requireth nothing of vs but faith with which we giue him his honour In Gal. 2. to 5. f. 223. Christ hath so abrogated the workes of the law as they may be held indifferently but they bind no more Againe We are not tyed to any externall worke at all but free to any We are free to all workes To all things worke towards any man at any time or manner whatsoeuer A Christian is wholy free to all things doing or omitting as the occasion serueth or wanteth Psal 5. to 3. f. 171. Take this rule where Luthers rule of doing good the Scripture commandeth a good worke to be done do thou so vnderstand that it forbiddeth thee to do a good worke Et apud Kemnitium in locis part 2. tit de operibus p. 73. This phrase of the law A faithfull man ought to do good workes belongeth A Christian ought not to doe good not to Christians And apud Schlusselburg to 7. Catal. Haeret p. 193. We fight as well against good workes as against sinnes And l. de votis apud Coccium to 1. p. 1113. The doctrine Luther fighteth against good workes of workes is necessarily the doctrine of diuels Postilla in Natali Christi ib. Good workes are a couer of filthinesse and hypocrisie Et Serm. de Nouo testamento seu de Missa Let vs beware Bewareth of good workes of sinne but much more of good workes and laws and let vs attend to Gods promise and faith Ministri Electorales in Colloq Aldeburg p. 286. haue these words Gallus affirmed that Luther could hardly beare these propositions Good workes are necessarie A Christiā ought A Christian ought not do doe good workes to do good workes Et p. 128. Gallus Otto and manie other men do openly and bitterly reiect as false and improper this speach Good workes are necessarie and denie that Christians ought to doe good workes Liber Concordiae c. 4. Some haue disputed that good workes Good workes are free are not necessarie but free and voluntarie And some haue earnestly contended that new obedience is not necessarie in the iustified Melancthon in Resp ad Art 24. Bauar to 4. Some Protestants New obediēce not due denie this proposition New obedience is due because it is voluntarie Illyricus apud Schiusselburg to 7. Catal. Haeret. p. 271. condemneth Maior because he teacheth Good workes are necessarie to saluation by reason of debt Et in Apologia cont No debt Tiletan c. 6. All the obedience which Christ properly requireth of those that are to be saued is onely to beleiue in him and to runne to free bankets to which we are inuited of him Pareus l. 4. de Iustific c. 1. confesseth that this is the doctrine Good workes pertaine not to the kingdome of Christ Belonge to Satan We must pray to haue no good workes of the rigid Lutherans Good workes and new obediēce partaine not to the kingdome of Christ but to the world Christiās with their good workes belong to Sathan good workes are so farre from being necessarie as that they hinder saluation and be pernitious We ought to pray God that we perseuere to the end in faith without all good workes And the same speaches of theirs are repeated out of Colloq Aldeburg by Coccius to 1. p. 1113. Zuinglius l. de Relig. c. de Merito The Prophets do vehemently vrge to good workes but whom those that beleiue not well Caluin in Ioan. 6. v. 29. This alone doth God aske of vs that God requireth onely faith we beleiue THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely saieth that we ought to do the workes which are commanded vs that we ought to walke as Christ walked that we ought to giue our liues for our brethren that we ought to loue one an other The same say Catholikes Protestants expressely say that a Christian ought not to doe good workes that good workes are indifferent free voluntarie not necessarie and compell no more that a Christian is indifferent to all good workes not tyed to doe good workes
erre because Math. 16. v. 18. it is saied that the gates of hel shall not preuaile against the Church Moulins in his Buckler p. 49. answereth That is meant of the Church of the elect not of the vniuersall visible Church If we proue that the Church of anie age is to be heard because Christ Math. 18. Without anie limitation of time biddeth vs to heare the Church Herbrand in Compend loc de Eccles answereth This command is not vniuersall of the Church of all times but Christ speaketh of his litle Church according to the condition of those times which then wanted a pious politik Magistrate who was a mēber of the Church In like sorte Whitaker l. 1. de Script c. 7. sect 8. limitateth those words of Christ Ioan. 6. He shall teach you all trueth and those Luc. 10. v. 16. Who heareth you heareth me ib. c. 8. sect 1. and those of S. Ihon. 1. c. 4. v. 6. Who knoweth God heareth vs in l. 2. de Script c. 6. sect 3. to the Apostles onely If we proue that none may preach vnlesse he be sent because S. Paul saieth absolutely Rom. 10. v. 15. How shall they preach vnlesse they be sent they except where a Church is not yet founded or where Pastors teach not truely or where all things are in confusion as appeareth by what we tould l. 1. c. 7. art 8. If we proue that none may marrie after diuorce because without anie limitation it is saied 1. Corinth 7. v. 10. But to Touching Matrimonie them that are ioyned in matrimonie not I giue commandment but our Lord that the wife departe not from her husband and if she depart to remaine vnmarried or to be reconciled to her husband Caluin ib. answereth This is not meant of those who haue beene diuorced for adulterie Others except other cases as appeareth by whath hath beene saied l. 1. c. 12. art 6. And in like manner they limitate those words Math. 19. ver 9. He that shall marrie her that is dimissed committeth aduoutrie For thus Beza in Luc. 16. v. 18. The Lord speaketh of diuorces vsed amongst the Iews amongst which diuorce for adulterie cannot be reckoned The like he hath in 1. Cor. 7. v. 11. Bucer in Math 8. and others If we proue that all men ought to confesse all their Touching Confession sinnes to men because S. Iames c. 5. v. 16. absolutely saieth Confesse your sinnes one to an other Caluin 3. Instit c. 4. § 12. answereth Such a confessiō must befree so as it be not exacted of all but onely commended who feell that they haue need of it And moreouer that nether they who vse it for their need be compelled by any precept or drawne by any cunning to tell all their sinnes but as farre forth as themselues shall thinke fit Cōfessio Heluet. cap. 14. restraineth Saint Iames words to those sinnes onely which are committed against our neighbour If we proue that now a dayes sick persons are to be Touching extreme Vnction anointed with oile because S. Iames. c. 5. v. 14. saieth Is any man sick among you Let him bring in the Preists of the Church and let them pray ouer him anoiling him with oile in the name of our Lord Caluin 4. Instit 19. § 19. answereth This is commanded by Iames To wit Iames spoake for that time whiles as yet the Church did enioy this blessing If we proue that all who soeuer beleiue not shal be Touching faith damned because Christ saieth absolutely Marke vlt. v. 16. He that beleiueth not shal be condemned Zuinglius l. de baptismo tom 2. fol. 93. answereth What man is so doltish blockish and blind who seeth not that these words of Christ are spoaken onely of those who hauing heard the Ghospell do not beleiue Musculus in locis lit de Baptismo These kind of sentences concerning faith are not to be applied to infants as these Without faith it is impossible to please God c. If we proue that almes deliuereth as well from sinne Touching good workes past or present as to come because it is saied Tobie 4. ver 11. Almes deliuereth from all sinne and from death they restraine this to future sinnes Apologia Confess Augustan c. de Resp ad Argum. We grauut that almes do merit many benefits of God and deliuereth not from present but from future sinne that is deserue that we be defended in dangers of sinne and death If we proue that almes do purge inwardly or the soule because without limitation it is saied Luke 11. v. 14. Giue almes and behould all things are cleane vnto you they limitate this to outward cleasing onely Peter Martyr in Rom. 11. The third way of expounding this place is more fit as I thinke For Christ exhorteth them to cleanse their soule which is within and that is done by faith And as touching outward things he addeth Giue almes so all things shal be cleane to you If we proue that we may sell all and giue to the poore because our Sauiour saieth Math. 19. vers 21. If thou wilt be perfect sell what thou hast c. Perkins in Casibus Consciēt l. 3. c. 4. limitateth that counsaile of Christ to that man alone to whome he spoake saying Those words containe a personall and particular commandment And in like sort Fulk Math. 19. not 9. and Mark 10. not 3. If we proue that the conception of concupiscence or Touching sinne the inuoluntarie act thereof is no sinne before God because S. Iames saieth cap. 1. v. 15. Concupiscence when it hath conceaue bringeth forth sinne Caluin ib. answereth Iames disputeth not when sinne beginneth to be borne so that it be sinne and reputed for such before God but when it sheweth it selfe If we proue that the keeping of the law is absolutely necessarie to life euerlasting because Christ saieth absolutely Math. 19. v. 17. If thou wilt enter to life keepe the commandements they limitate these words to a certaine manner of entring to wit as they speake by entring by the law or by good workes or merits Caluin in Math. 5. ver 21. Who will enter to life by good workes those he biddeth nothing els but to keepe the commandments of the law And vpon this place We gather that this answere of Christ is according to the law And in Antidot Concil session 6. cap. 9. Surely whosoeuer will merit eternall life hath a rule prescribed to him by the law Doe these and thou shalt liue In like sorte answereth Pareus lib. 4. de lustificat cap. 2. And Illyricus in Claue part 2. tract 6. saieth That all men are bound to doe good and auoid sinne vnder paine of losse of eternall life is a sentence of the law and both must and ought to be restrained by the Protestant Ghospell or remission of sinnes So that no precepts of doing good and auoiding ill pertaine to the Protestant Ghospell If we proue that with Gods grace a man may inwardly conuert himselfe
ver 13. Not the hearers of the law are iust with God but the doers of the law shal be iustified Caluin ibidem answereth This sentence hath onely this meaning If iustice be sought by the law we must fulfill the law because the iustice of the law consisteth in the perfection of workes Peter Martyr ibid. That which he saieth hath this meaning If anie were to be iustified before God by the iustice of the law he must fulfill the law Pareus libr. 4. de Iustificat cap. 14. The Apostlesaieth indeed Doers of the law shal be iustified but he meaneth conditionally if there be anie And Illyricus in Claue part 2. tract 4. writeth thus Roman 2. When Gentils doe those things which are of the law that is if they did them Againe Doe this and thou shalt liue is put for If thou doest them thou shalt liue If we proue that there are some which loue their neighbour and fulfill the law because it is saied Rom. 13. v. 8. Who loueth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law Caluin ib. answereth Paul saieth not what men doe or not doe but speaketh vpon condition which you shall not find any where fulfilled And if you proue that the law may be fulfilled because the Apostle saieth Galat. 6. v. 2. Beare yee one an others burdens and so yee shall fulfill the law of Christ Caluin ibid. answereth Because none performeth altogether that which Paul requireth therefore we are all farre from perfection If we proue that single life is simply good because S. Paul saieth absolutely 1. Cor. 7. v. 1. It is good for a man not to touch a woman P. Martyr in locis Classe 3. cap. 7. § 17. answereth They should see that what Paul hath of the praises of single life are neuer spoaken absolutely If we proue that virginitie may be absolutely counselled Of good workes to men because S. Paul 1. Corinth 7. v. 7. saieth absolutely I would all men to be as my selfe And ver 25. A concerning virgins a commandement of our Lord I haue not but counsaile I giue And ver 28. Art thou loose from a wife seeke not a wife Caluin in ver 25. cit answereth Because it is a slipperie matter and full of difficulties he speaketh alwaies vnder condition And in v. 27. This second member must be taken vnder condition If we proue that some may fall from grace because S. Of Iustification Paul saieth Gal. 5. v. 4. You are fallen from grace Pareus in Galat. 1. lect 7. answereth The Apostle speaketh that conditionally And in cap. 5. vers 4. lect 61. For the Apostle affirmeth not that the Galathians were fallen but threatneth that if that if they will be iustified by the law that it will come to posse that they fall wherefore thus I make my tenth argument Who beside the foresaied opposition on to so manie and such words of holie Scripture are forced to change manie and weightie absolute sayings of Scripture into conditionals they contradict the true meaning of the holie Scripture But Protestants doe so Therefore c. CHAPTER XI THAT PROTESTANTS CHANGE Conditionall Propositions of the Scripture into Absolute and delude them diuers other waies THE eleuenth argument for to proue that Protestants contradict the true sense of holie Scripture shal be because they are sometimes forced to change conditionall propositions thereof into absolute and to delude them diuers other waies For if we proue that our freindshippe with God dependeth of our keeping the commandements because Christ saied conditionally Ioan. 15. v. 14. Yee are my freinds if yee doe the things that I command yee Caluin ibid. answereth He meaneth not that we obtaine so great honor by anie merit of ours but onely admonisheth vs vpon what condition he receaueth vs into fauour and vouch safeth to reckon vs amongst his freinds But this wil be more euident by that we shall shew in the next chapter how they of causall propositions make no causall Diuers others waies they delude and frustrate the conditionall propositiōs of holie Scripture For if they can by anie colour they expound them of onely faith or of the holie ghost So they delude those places Ioan. 6. vers 53. Vnlesse yee eate the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinke his blood yee shall not haue life in yee and Ioan. 3. ver 5. Vnlesse a man be borne agayne of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdome of God Which teach that Sacraments are necessarie to saluation Or if they must needs expound them of good workes they will not expoūd thē of doing all necessarie good workes and auoiding all necessarie euill but of some onely or in parte or of endeauor to doe or auoid them so they delude those sayings of the Scripture Rom. 8. v. 13. If you liue according to the flesh you shall die but if by the spirit you mortifie the deeds of the flesh you shall liue Caluin ib. He promiseth vs life if we endeauour to mortifie the flesh For he doth not exactly require the death of the flesh but onely biddeth vs endeauour to tame the lustes thereof And the like he doth in manie other places as may be seene hereafter c. 16. And in like manner they delude all other sentences of Scripture which teach that if we wil be saued or iustified we must doe good workes and eschew euill And according to this they say that we must doe some good or haue some good workes that we must haue a begun or imperfect newnesse of life and keepe the lawe in some sorte or fashion Luther in Isaiae 8. to 4. f. 83. The holie Ghost is giuen that we may satisfie the law in some parte In some parte And in Psal 51. to 3. fol. 455. We will fulfill and keepe the law but with a large that is with a true Euangelicall dispensation Confessio Saxon. c. 9. It is needfull that there be some obediēce Protest dispensation Some obedience Some beginning In some sorte In some kind To begin in those that are iustified Schlusselb to 4. Catal. p. 176. The iustified are free from the accusation and damnation of the law not from beginning of obedience Bucer in Rom. 8. Christ giueth that spirit whereby we auoid sinne in some sorte Pareus l. 3 de Iustif p. 645. Saints doe not doubt of some kind of inherent iustice and l. 4. c. 7. It is enough if we endeauour to begin the new obedience of the law according to all the commandements So that wheresoeuer the Scripture saieth conditionally If thou wilt be iustified or saued doe this or doe not that they vnderstand it with a large dispensation that is doe somewhat or doe not somewhat of it or begin or endeauour to doe or not doe it But if this shift will not serue because the Scripture speaketh conditionally of keeping the whole law as Math. 9. v. 17. If thou wilt enter into life keepe the commandements and the like thē they say it is the
to the parte of Saintes that some are worthie to walke with God in white The same say Catholiks Protestants plainely say that there is no worth at all in good workes that they are vnworthie to come in Gods sight ART VII WHETHER LIFE EVERlasting or reward be promised or giuen to good workes or good workers SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Mathew 20. vers 8. Call the worke men and pay them Hire giuen to workes their hire 1. Tim. 4. v. 8. Pietie is profitable to all things hauing promise Life to come promised to pietie of the life that now is and of that to come Apoc. 2. v. 7. To him that ouercometh I will giue to eate of the tree of life 2. Paralipomen 15. vers 7. For there shal be reward to Reward to workes your worke Math. 25. v. 34. Come ye blessed of my Father possesse you the The Kinkdome giuen for workes kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world For I was an hungred and you gave me to eate c. CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME C. Bellarm. l. 5. de Iustificat c. 3. The Scripture in expresse words saied that this reward is giuen to the worke not to the promise onely PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Zuinglius in Lucae 13. to 4. Workes are not the things to Saluation not giuen to workes Nor heauenlie rewards which God giueth euerlasting safetie Author libri de Iustif to 5. doctrinae Iesuiticae p. 240. It must not be demanded nor granted that heauenlie rewards are giuen to good workes Pareus l. 5. de Iustif c. 3. I say that it is a false glose Call the Nor life euerlasting workmen giue them their hire that is giue the workmen life euerlasting Againe I denie also that life euerlasting is giuen to workers Ministers of Saxonie in Colloq Aldeburg pag. 162. You neuer reade in the Scripture That euerlasting life is giuen to good workes THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely saieth that hire is giuen to workmē that to him that ouercometh is giuen to eate of the tree of life that to pietie is promised both this life and the next that there is reward to workes The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely say that life euerlasting is not giuen to workmen that it is a false glose Giue the workmen their hire that is giue workmen life euerlasting that God giueth not eternall life to workes that he giueth not heauenlie rewards to workes ART VIII WHETHER GOOD WORKES of the Iust be meritorious before God SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Eccles 16. v. 15. All mercie shall make place to euerie man Merit in good workes according to the merit of his workes Hebr. 13. ver 19. And beneficence and communication do not God promerited forgette for with such hostes God is promerited CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Councel of Trent Sess 6. c. 16. We must beleiue that nothing is wanting to those that are iustified whereby fully they may not be iudged to haue truely merited life euerlasting in due time by the workes which are done in God so they departe hence in grace PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Confessio Wittenberg c. de Iustif Before the tribunall of God where true and eternall iustice and saluation is handled No place at all for merits there is no place at all for the merits of men Confessio Belgica art 15. We do good workes but not to Merit is vanitie merit any thing by them For what can we merit Confessio Scotica art 15. Whosoeuer brag of merit of their workes brag of vanitie Perkins Cathol reform Contr. 5. c. 1. We renounce all personall All personall merit renounced merits that is all merits within the person of any mere man c. 2. It must needs be a fanaticall insolencie for any man to imagin that he can by his workes merit eternall life who cannot We cannot merit bread merit bread Luther de Seruo atbit tom 2. fol. 480. There is no merit at all Zuinglius in Exposit Fdiei to 2. f. 558. It is manifest that the names of Merit and Reward are in the holie Scripture but in steed of a liberall guift Caluin 3. Instit c. 16. § 2. We take from men the opinion of meriting c. 7. § 3. The workes of Gods seruants perpetually deserue Not one drop of merit rather shame then praise In Rom. 4. v. 2. Who then of vs will chalenge one drop of merit In Gal. 6. ver 8. I say that they are not onely vnworthie of the basest reward but wholy worthie to be damned Beza in Ioan. 1. v. 9. Where are merits which we may bring before Away with the name of merit God Et l. Quaest vol. 1. p. 681. Away with the name of merit which is directly contrarie to grace Et 690. Thou shall not find in any place of the Scripture the name of merit Scarpe de Iustific Contr. 15. We say that the workes of the Nether condigne nor cōgruoue merit faithfull in Gods sight are no way meritorious ether condignely or congruously THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainely saieth that euerie one shal be rewarded according to the merit of his workes that God is promerited by good workes The same say Catholiks Protestants say that there is no merit at all not a drop of merit in our workes that we cannot merit bread not the basest reward that our works are no way meritorious nether condignely nor congruously Which some Protestants confesse to be contrarie to Scripture See libro 2. cap. 30. ART XI WHETHER THE IVST may glorie in God of their good workes SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. 1. Cor. 1. v. 30. He that doth glorie may glorie in our Lord. We may glorie in God c. 9. v. 15. It is good for me to die rather then that any man should make my glorie void Galat. 6. vers 4. Let euerie one proue his owne workes and so in himselfe onely shall he haue glorie and not in an other 2. Thessalon 2. versus 19. and 20. For what is our hope or ioy or crowne of glorie Are not you before our Lord Iesus in his coming For you are our glorie and our ioye 2. Corinth 1. v. 12. For our glorie is the testimonie of our In the testimonie of our conscience concience CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME D. Stapleton in Rom. 3. ver 21. Abraham had workes by which he might glorie before God Cardinal Bellarmin libro quinto de Iustification cap 5. Faith excludeth all their glorying who glorie in themselues as if they could worke iustice by their owne strength and had of themselues all the good which they haue but it excludeth not the glorying of them who glorie in our Lord. PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Luther postilla in Natali Dom. fol. 374. There is no cause No glorie in anie worke why we should glorie neuer so litle in these works but rather that we should blush Caluin in Com. 4. vers 2. Abraham had not whereupon to glorie before God In cap. 3. vers
shall turne away himselfe Some reprobates iustified from his iustice and do iniquitie according to all the abhominations which the impious vseth to worke shall he liue All his iustices which he had done shall not be remembred in the preuarication which he hath preuaricated and in his sinne which he hath sinned in them he shall die Math. 24. v. 12. And because inquitie shall abound the charitie Charitie in some in whome it waxeth could of manie shall wax could CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY DENIE Councel of Trent Sess 6. Can. 17. If anie shall say that the grace of iustification is giuen onely to the predestinate to life be he accursed PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Whitaker Contr. 2. q. 1. cap. 8. Saints indeed none are but None sanctified but the predestinate those who are predestinate The onely predestinate are indued with the spirit of sanctification Perkins de Desert to 1. col 1026. God bestoweth his spirit No reprobate is regenerate vpon the reprobate but not so farre as his nature is regenerated or renewed And Some apud ipsum col 209. Remissiō of sinnes pertaineth to the elect alone Caluin de Praedest p. 695. He iustifieth none but whome he None iustified but the predestinate hath ordained to life P. 713. It is certaine that the reprobates are neuer indued with the spirit of adoption In Antidoto Concil sess 6. Can. 17. Whosoeuer is ignorant that the spirit of regeneration is not giuen but to the elect alone I know not what he knoweth in the Scripture Beza l. quaest vol. 1. p. 687. The elect alone repent and doe good The elect repent workes Abbots in Diatribam Tomsoni cap. 5. There is nothing in reprobates borne of God No reprobate is iustified No reprobate iustified Rainolds Thesi 4. God iustifieth the elect alone Pareus l. 1. de Grat. lib. arbit c. 16. Albeit the reprobates seeme sometimes to be conuerted yet inwardly they are neuer regenerate Vrbanus Regius in locis tom 1. fol. 307. The reprobates shall neuer haue grace which maketh gratefull nor true faith and charitie THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainely saieth that a iust man may turne himselfe from iustice and die in sinne and that the charitie of manie shall waxe could The same say Catholiks Protestants plainely say that the predestinate are iustified onely the elect regenerated onely the predestinate are Saintes that the reprobates are neuer adopted neuer truely iustified neuer regenerated onely seeme to be cōuerted and that there is nothing borne of God in them ART XV. WHETHER A SINNER COOperate or prepare himselfe to iustification SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Prou. 16. v. 1. It pertaineth to a man to prepare the hart Ezec. 18. v. 27. And when the impious shall turne away himselfe Man must prepare his hart He doth quicken his soule Cleanseth himselfe Sanctifieth himselfe from his impietie he shall vinificate his soule v. 31. Make to your selues a new hart and a new spirit 2. Tim. 2. vers 21. If anie man therefore shall clense himselfe from these he shal be a vessell vnto honour 1. Ioan. 3. v. 3. And euerie one that hath this hope in him sanctifieth himselfe Iames 4. v. 8. Clense your hands yee sinners and purifie your hartes ye double of mynd 2. Cor. 7. v. 1. Let vs clense our selues from all inquination 1. Reg. 7. v. 3. Prepare your hartes to our Lord and serue him Prepareth his hart onely CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Councel of Trent Sess 6. Can. 4. If anie shall say that mans free will moued and stirred of God doth by assenting cooperate nothing with God mouing and stirring whereby he may prepare and dispose himselfe to obtaine the grace of iustification nor can dissent though he would but like to a thing without life doth nothing at all and hath it selfe merly passiuely be he accursed PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Whitaker l. 2. de Peccato orig c. 3. In our verie conuersion In our conuersion we are mere passiue to God which is done by grace our free will hath not in it selfe anie power but in this matter we haue our selues wholy passiuely Perkins in Apoc. 3. Hence I gather that the Papists doate We dispose not our selues to iustificatiō in saying that in regeneration man hath free will and the vse thereof and that he can dispose himselfe to iustification Luther deseruo arb to 2. f. 454. In the verie renewing and We are mere passiue and doe nothing change of the ould man who is the sonne of the Diuel into a new man who is the sonne of God a man hath himselfe merely passiuely nether doth any thing but is wholy done In Psal 5. to 3. It is an errour that free will hath anie actiuitie in good workes when we speake of an internall worke What actiuitie hath claye when We haue no actiuitie the potter giueth it a forme Postilla in die Natiuit fol. 62. No other waies then if God No more then a dead tree change a drie poste into a new greene and florishing tree so doth Gods grace renewe a man Liber Concordiae c. de lib. arbit The conuersion of our depraued No more then a dead man will is the worke of God alone as the raising of the dead in the resurrection is to be attributed to God alone Schlusselburg tom 5. Catal. Haer et p. 44. Is it well saied No more then a blocke that a man is like a blocke in his conuersion Well Mansfeldenses apud eundem p. 474. The true and plaine sentence of this question and as it were the true proposition of all the matter which Scripture and with it and out of it Luther setteth downe is this That a man in his cōuersion hath himselfe merely passiuely and by his strength cooperateth nothing at all to Gods grace Yea some Lutherans not content to denie that a man cooperateth to his cōuersion and to say that he behaueth himselfe merly passiuely like to a blocke adde also that he resisteth and repugneth to his conuersion Praetorius apud Schlusselburg tom cit pag. 532. Flanius Man is conuerted against his will saieth A man in his conuersion is like a blocke doing nothing of himselfe yea resisting and like an enemie striuing against God What do you dislike in this doctrine of Luther and Illyricus Gesnerus in Compendio doctrinae caelestis loco 12. It followeth that a man in his conuersion doth not onely cooperate nothing but also resisteth the Holie Ghost Piscator apud Vorstium in Parasceue ad Collat. c. 8. God worketh faith and conuersion in men whomsoeuer he conuerteth they not onely being impious but also actually rebelling and continewing in the act of rebellion Thus they Caluin 2. Instit c. 3. § 7. But there be some who will graunt Man hath no parte in his conuersion that the will of it selfe turned from good is conuerted by the onely power of God yet so as it being prepared hath some