true Iustice consisteth Remission of sinnes sayth he it selfe is not without some merit if fayth do get or impetrate it neither is the merit of fayth none by which fayth he sayd Lord be mercifull to me a sinner and descended iustifyed by the merit of faythfull humility And in the epistle next following But if any man shall say that Fayth doth merit the grace of working well we cannot deny it nay we willingly confesse it c. They therefore that haue fayth by which they obtaine iustification through the grace of God haue arriued to the law of Iustice Likewise in another place This confession sayth he meriteth Iustification 5. The Centurists taxe Tertullian Origen S. Gregory Nissen S. Ephrem S. Hierome for fauouring heerin our doctrine Tertullian say they seemeth to hould that good workes do both goe before and follow fayth for so he auerreth of Patience And in his fourth booke against Marcion he affirmeth the chief cause of Zachaeus iustification to haue been in that he not knowing fullfilled the precept of Isay breake thy bread vnto the hungry In like manner Origen in so many places I cyte their owne wordes ascribeth to workes the preparation to saluation and cause thereof as in his Commentaryes vpon S. Matthew Such truely sayth he as do professe their fayth in Iesus and do not prepare themselues by good workes to saluation are resembled to the foolish Virgins And in his homilyes vpon Iosue The habitation or dwelling of God in vs he attributeth to our merits that is to our merits of congruity as S. Augustine taught whome I cyted before Then they reprehend and labour to refell this saying Cent. 4. c. 10. Colum. 953. Nissen l. de vita Moys Cent. 4 c. 4. Colum. â—94 Ephrem l. 2. de compunct cor cap. 8. Cent. 4. c. 10. Col. 1249. of S. Gregory Nissen The grace of the holy Ghost dwelleth not in man vnles be first mortify in himselfe the force of sinne They accuse S. Ephrem for teaching that Contrition doth merit remission of sinnes Wherupon they reiect this as one of his blemished places Who doth not admire that God by the teares of this short space forgiueth sinnes and that we gauled with the sore of a thousand woundes he at the eleuenth houre cureth vs by teares Againe When he hath healed vs he rendreth the reward of tears S. Hierome also they blame because in his commentary vpon the prayer of Ieremy Nimium tribuit contritioni he attributeth too much to contrition they blame him likewise for houlding That Cornelius receaued the holy Ghost by the works of the naturall law by which Abraham Moyses and other Saints were also iustifyed What S. Hierome there meaneth by receauing the holy Ghost and whether Cornelius were S. Basil reg 224. ex breuior Greg. hom â— in Ezech. iustifyed before the comming of S. Peter I referre my Reader to the expositours vpon that place and certaine it is that S. Basil S. Gregory do insinuate that the almes prayers and other morall good workes which Cornelius wrought were acceptable preparatiues to moue God to mercy and to communicate vnto him the grace of inherent Iustice Which preparation Prosper expresly acknowledgeth and freeth it from the heresy of the Pelagians Prosp l. de lib. arbitr ad Ruffin Beda in hunc locuÌ„ saying that they did not vnderstand that preparation of Cornelius to be made by Gods grace as we do And Venerable Bede out of S. Gregory affirmeth of the same Cornelius He knew God Creatour of all but that his omnipotent Sonne was incarnate he knew not and in that fayth he made prayers and gaue almes which pleased God and by well doing he deserued to know God perfectly to belieue the mistery of the Incarnation and to come to the Sacrament of Baptisme S. Augustine also thus Because Aug. l. â— de Bapt. c. â— whatsoeuer goodnes he had in prayer and almes the same could not profit him vnles he were by the bands of Christian society and peace incorporated to the Church he is bidden to send vnto Peter that by him he may learne Christ by him he may be baptized Wherby it appeareth that all these allowed his preparatiue workes to deserue in a manner by way of congruity the iustifying grace of the holy Sacrament of Baptisme 6. It is bootlesse to demur any longer on the recitall Rom. 4. Ioan. 20. v. 29. Matth. 8. v. 10. 15. v. 8. Luc. vltim 25. Marc. vlt. v. 14. of other sayings in a point so cleare which Protestants themselues could neuer gainesay vnles they would haue vs worke like stockes and stones or like brute and senseles creatures without freedome and election in the most noble and supernaturall act of our fayth wherein they place the summe of our spirituall life For if that be free as the Holy Ghost declareth it to be commending the fayth of Abraham and of many other that belieued rebuking the incredulity of such as belieued not which he would not haue done if it had not beene in their power to belieue or not to belieue Then it must needs presuppose a pious affection of the will to go before and bend the vnderstanding to assent vnto such hidden misteryes as he imbraceth not only because that alone can affoard it the dignity of freedome but also because the vnderstanding being not inclined by nature nor drawne by the euident sight S. Thoâ— 2. 2. of the obiect nor otherwise inforced cannot possibly as S. Thomas the oracle of Deuines reasoneth giue assent to darke obscure and ineuident articles vnles it be bowed and determined by the force of the will which force and Concil Araus c. 5. Concil Tol. 4. c 55. refer c. de Iudaeis dist 45. August tract 26. in Ioan. Ambr ad Rom. 4. in illa verb. Ei autem quioperatur c. inclination the Arausican Councell tearmeth Initium fidei ipsum credulitatis affectum the beginning of Fayth and the affection it selfe or desire of belieuing And for this cause the fourth Toletan Councell sayth Mentis conuersione quisquis credendo saluatur By the conuersion of his owne mind euery one belieuing is saued S. Augustine recyting many thinges that man may do not willingly immediatly inferreth but belieue he cannot vnles he be willing S. Ambrose To belieue or not belieue is the part of the will for he cannot be forced to that which is not manifest Origen No man is depriued of the possibility of belieuing for this is placed in the arbitrement or choice of man and in the cooperation of grace S. Clemens Alexandrinus The kingdome of heauen is yours if you will c. it is yours if you shall only be willing to belieue Which wordes the Centuristes quote and with their proud and audacious pen censure as Origen ho. 2. in diuersa loca sacrae Scripturae Clement Alexan. in paren Cent. 2. c. 4. Col. 59. Iraen Col. â—8 apud Centur. erroneous As also the like of
founded erected by hope and perfected or finished by Charity The Centurists among the stubble rubbish or errours of S. Ephrem reiect this â—aying of his What doth it auaile if we haue all things and only want Charity that saueth vs Among the drosse of Sedulius they report this All iustice consisteth of Fayth and Charity 9. Innumerable others do they reprehend for houlding with vs in this point of iustification who partly in the former partly in the ensuing Chapter are recounted Yet I thinke it not amisse to knit vp this discourse with two or three Theological reasons borrowed from S. Thomas and his followers by which they demonstrate the excellency of Charity euen in this life beyond Fayth or Hope The first is that Charity in more noble and perfect S. Thom. 2. 2 q. 23â— art 6. 1. part q. 82. art 3 q. 108. art â— 1. 2. q. 65. art 6. Lorin Bannes â—â—iet â—s haec loca manner aymeth and inclineth to the incomparable bouÌ„ty and goodnes of God then either of those vertues for Fayth hath reference vnto him according to some speciall and restrayned manner as he is reuealed vnto vs. Hope as he shal be the goale or center of our Beatitude But Charity imbraceth him as he is in himselfe infinite illimited the soueraigne good and mayne Ocean of all perfection for although the supernatural knowledge of fayth be required as a condition to propose the amiablenes of the beloued obiect vnto vs yet loue is not bounded within the limits of our knowledge but extendeth it selfe to all the perfections of the thing proposed without any exception restriction or limitation which apparantly conuinceth the precedency of Charity because that vertue is more noble and worthy which after a more noble and worthy manner expresseth tendeth and draweth neere to the dignity of her obiect as all both Deuines Philosophers agree Secondly in this life the loue of thinges superiour which exceed the compasse of nature is more perfect then the knowledge or vnderstanding of them because we know them only answerable to the proportion of restrained formes which represent them vnto vs. We loue them according to the full sea of goodnes which Porphir is included in them In so much as Porphiry the Philosopher writeth That to speculate diuine things doth purify the soule Aug. ser 28. de teÌ„p Est 27. in append tract 2. in 1. ep Ioan. Dionys de diuin nomin c. 4. Plato to loue them doth deify or turne the same as it were into God S. Augustine agreably If thou louest God I dare say thou art God Thirdly loue weddeth conioyneth vs with the thing we loue it transformeth to vse S. Dionysius his word the louer into the bowels of his beloued Maketh sayth that Diuine Philosoper Plato the soule more where it loueth then where it liueth Howbeit Fayth and Hope suppose a disiunction and separation from their reuealed or desired obiects for Hope expecteth not the thing possessed and Fayth giueth not assent to the mystery clearely or manifestly proposed Hence S. Thomas inferreth the preheminence S. Thom. 1. 2. q. 66. art 6. of Charity aboue Hope or Fayth because the property and nature thereof consisteth in a more perfect vnion coniunction or marriage with God by reason of which it must needes more effectually concurre to our iustification then either of them 10. Therfore M. Abbot after much adoe to the contrary yieldeth to Charity so great a prerogatiue as he contenteth himselfe if Fayth may haue some part with Hier. in c. 22. Matth. it in the worke of iustification For in answere to that saying of Hierome The wedding garments are the Commandements of our Lord and the workes which are made vp of the Abbot c. fol. 610. 611. Law and the Ghospell and do make the garment of the new man M. Abbot replyeth Why doth he M. Doctour Bishop alleadge these words to exclude Fayth from being a part of the wedding garment Then The workes that are made vp of the Law Abbot ibidem the Ghospell consist not only in Charity but in Fayth also c. Lastly Though any do by occasion name Charity for the wedding garment as men by diuers occasions speake diuersly therof yet no man Ibidem was euer so absurde as expresly to exclude Fayth from being one part thereof I thinke so that neuer true Catholike was so absurde but so absurd are you as to accept that for a part which you and your companions haue hitherto challenged to be the only cause of Iustice For I cannot iudge that you should account this wedding garment which only admitteth vs to the banquet of heauen which only is acceptable to the Maister of that heauenly feast any other then the robe of true Iustice so pleasing vnto him wherein if Fayth haue only a part if it consist in Charity not excluding true Fayth why put you this question in suite in behalfe of Fayth alone Or if the wedding garment be not the true liuery of Iustice gratefull vnto God how is any part thereof wouen by Fayth which only concurreth according to you to iustify before God THE XXI CONTROVERSY IN WHICH It is discussed how good workes do iustify against Doctour Abbot Doctour Whitaker and D. Fulke CHAP. I. AFTER the first Iustification which iâ— accomplished by Charity there followeth the second that is the increase and augmentation of the same by good works in which holy men dayly walke and go forward vntill they arriue to the supreme degree of that finite perfection which God foreseeth they will climbe vnto by the concurrence of his grace as the wiseman teacheth â— Prouer. v. 2â— in the fourth Chapter of the Prouerbs The path of the iust as a shining light proceedeth euen to perfect day That is as the dawning appeareth more bright and bright vntill it approach to noone tyde or to the fullnes of the day so the iust man aduaunceth himselfe forwards in the way of perfection vntill he come to his determined pitch or state of vertue in which course euery step that he treadeth truly augmenteth his former iustice For as S. Iohn sayth He that doth instice is iust And he that is iust let him be iustifyed yet Doctour Whitaker D. Fulke and Doctour Abbot 1. Ioan. 3. v. 7. Apoc. 22. v. 11. VVhitak l. 8. aduer Duraeum Fulk in c. 22. Apoâ— sect 3. Abbot c. 4 sect 35. 36. Ibidem with one accord reply that S. Iohn speaketh not there of true iustice before God or of that iustice which purchaseth heauen but of inward sanctification or outward iustice before men only But if you distinguish sanctification from iustice as deceitfully you do the proper notion and signification of the word maketh against you which sayth not a man is sanctifyed only but iustifyed more iust by doing iustice Then S. Iohn expoundeth himselfe adding He that doth iustice is iust euen as he is iust But he to
fountaine of life The feare of our Lord is the beginning of wisedome So of Hope it is recorded By hope we are saued Our Lord will saue them because they hoped in him And Euery one that hath this hope in him sanctifyeth himselfe to wit by his free will working togeather with Gods grace as S. Augustine 1. Ioan. 3 v. 3. August in eum locum 1. Ioan. 3. v. 14. Luc. 7. v. 47. Eccles 2. v. 10. Marc. l. v. 15. Act. 1. v. 38. Act. 8. v. 12. Fulk locot citato Ezech. 18. v. 27. Ibid. v. 31. 2. Tim. 2. v. 21. sayth vpon this Text. So of Loue and Charity we read We are translated from death to life because we loue our brethren many sinnes are remitted vnto her because she loued much And yee that feare our Lord loue him and your harts shal be illuminated 2. Or Sorrow and Repentance our Sauiour sayth Be penitent and belieue the Ghospell S. Peter do pennance and be euery one of you baptized in the name of Iesus Christ for remissioÌ„ of your sinnes Againe exhorting Symon Magus do pennance from this thy wickednes and pray to God if perhaps this cogitation of thy hart may be remitted Where he requireth pennance in which contrition or sorrow is included and also prayer not as sequells which follow according to M. Fulks pelting Sophistry but as necessary preparations which go before remission of his sinne The Prophet Ezechiel when the wicked shall turne away himselfe from his impiety he shall viuificate his soule And cast away from you all your preuarications wherein yee haue preuaricated and make to your selues a new hart and a new spirit S. Paul If any man shall clense himselfe from these he shal be a vessel vnto honour What more cleare A sinner may begin to cast off his preuarications to cleanse and make himselfe a new hart a new spirit he may by Sorrow griefe and pennance viuificate or giue life to his soule therefore he may being quickned and stirred vp by God freely concurre to his owne iustification as shall yet more euidently appeare by this description gathered out of the sacred Councell of Trent and many most learned Deuines 3. Iustification is a motion or change of our freewill made Concil Trid. sesâ— 6. by God in detestation of sinne with infusion of grace to the remissioÌ„ thereof and gayning of eternall blisse It is called a motion or change because it is a passage or departure from the state of sinne to the state of grace from vice to vertue from darknes to light from being wicked vniust hatefull in enmity with God to be pious iust deare and lincked vnto him in the band of friendship in so much as to iustify the wicked to reconcile the enemy to rayse the lapsed and to sanctify the sinner is one and the selfe same thing although explayned in diuers manners It is said to be of freewill for that the will of man is not forced or violently drawn but voluntarily freely concurreth to this blessed change It is added made by God because freewill worketh not of it selfe but inspired quickned and ayded by him He first calleth on vs auerted from him he knocketh at the gate of our harts he awaketh vs being a sleep in our sinnefull letargy he stirreth vs vp eggeth vs forward helpeth vs labouring refresheth vs fainting and strengthneth vs accomplishing that which he inspireth he likewise remitteth the wrong we did vnto him he pardoneth the fault cancelleth our depts we willingly as I say endeauouring cooperating with him For as a lame cripple holpen by his friend to remoue from this roome to that doth freely go yet supported by another so man by the ayde of Gods preuenting corroborating and helping grace doth freely consent and obey his motions willingly passeth from the prison of vice to the court of his fauour yet succoured by the help of his diuine asistance It is auerred to be in detestation of sin for as much as that preuenting grace layeth before the God stirreth vs vp to the detestation of sinne before he infuse his habituall grace eyes of our vnderstanding the turpitude of vice and vgly shape of our soules the beatitude and happynes we lost the miseryes the seuere punishments the indignation we haue incurred and striketh vs with the feare and terrour of them discouereth the meanes by which we may escape them meanes to recouer our felicity againe Then it inflameth the affections of our will to loue and imbrace these happy meanes by detesting our forepassed and vndertaking a new course of life Moreouer it is inserted with infusion of grace to the remission of sinne because at the same instant iustifying grace is infused and sinne expelled the temple of our soules It is lastly concluded to the gayning of eternall blisse to signify that that is the finall end of our iustification the saluation of oursoules and purchase of euerlasting life 4. Thus man through the great mercy and sweet motions of God is prepared by an act of Fayth Feare Tertul. l. 4. cont Marcion c. 18. Orig. hom 3 in Leuit. Cypr ser 5. de lapsis Basil in psal 33. August tract 9. In ep Ioan. l. de Catechiz rudibus c. 4. 5 l. de natu gratia Clement Alexan. l 2. Strom. â— ante med Imbr. l. â— de poeâ—it Hieron lâ— 2. aduers Pelag. in commeÌ„ad â— c. 〈◊〉 Greg. hâ—m 13. in â—uaÌ„gelium Aug. ep 105. Augustep 106. August tract 44. In Ioan. Cent. 3. c. 4. Colum. 80. Tertul l. de poenit lib. 4. contra Marcion Orig. tract 32. in Matth. hom 24. in Iosue 26. in â—undem Hope Charity and Repentance to returne vnto his fauour and to receaue the stole of his heauenly Iustice for he cannot possibly be excited and recalled from wickednes without grace from aboue he cannot belieue the way of saluation without fayth nor dread the iudgmentes of God without feare nor expect and desire his friendship without hope nor loue his goodnes without Charity nor truly detest offences past without Sorrow Repentance Therfore they all ioyntly make way to this supernaturall iustifying of our soules whereby two thinges are manifest 1. That our freewill before we be iustifyed doth not as Protestants fancy passiuely concurre but as we say actiuely to the callings of God 2. That not Fayth alone but Feare Hope Charity Repentence and other vertues cooperate also to the worke of our iustification as the whole Senate of Fathers agree with vs Tertullian Origen S. Cyprian S. Basil S. Augustine S. Clement of Alexandria S. Hierome S. Gregory and the rest some affirming one of the former vertues to prepare the way to iustification some another And S. Augustine els where writing of Fayth in particuler often teacheth that it meriteth by way of congruity or impetration the remission of our sinnes and true iustification therefore it goeth before the life of grace and cannot possibly be that vertue in which
Charity good workes or vertuous life agreable to his fayth Therefore Maldonate had great reason to coÌ„mend this as an excellent place against all them that hold Fayth alone to be sufficient for saluation 4. The second argument is taken out of S. Iames his Epistle which was as S. Augustine sayth specially directed against the erroneous maintainers of only Fayth and contayneth many passages cleane contrary to our aduersaryes assertion as if a man sayth he hath fayth but hath not workes shall Fayth be able to saue him Likewise Fayth also if it haue not workes is dead in it selfe And Yee see that by workes a man is iustifyed not by fayth only Whitaker replyeth that S. Iames treateth of an idle faygned fayth But this is euidently false for he treateth of the fayth of Abraham much renowned in holy Scripture of that fayth of his which was consummated by his works which togeather with works did iustify him before God which must needs be a true fayth for a counterfeit fayth had neuer beene commended by the holy Ghost nor byn sayd to be consummated by workes much lesse could it iustify before the face of God Againe what needed the Apostle labour so much to proue that a faygned and counterfeit fayth nothing auayleth to the gayning of Saluation when none of those Christians against whome he wrote euer imagined any such matter And demaunding thou beeleuest that there is one God how could he haue answered thou dost wel if with a counterfeit Fayth he had belieued which had been rather hypocrisy then well doing Another euasion therefore both he Doctour Fulke and Doctour Abbot deuise that S. Iames speaketh of Fayth outwardly professed which declareth vs iust in the face of men not of inward fayth whereby we are iustifyed before the sight of God But by the same argument this is also refuted for the beloiuing in God is inward fayth Then Abrahams fayth there mentioned was iustifying fayth in the â—ight of God that alone did not iustify him but workes consummated they perfected not another but the same Aug. l. 21. de Ciuit. Dei c. 26 l. de vnic Bapt. c. 10. Cyril l. 10. in Ioan. Chrys hom 2. in Gen. hom 2. in ep ad Philemon Hier. in c. 5. ad Gal. tom 2. in Apol. ad Pammâ— c. 2. Aug. l. 83. q. q. 76. Aug. l. de fide operi c. 14. iustification therefore they also perfected the iustification before God or fayth alone performed it which the Apostle denyeth And thus S. Augustine S. Cyrill S. Chrysostome and S. Hierome vnderstand S. Iames of true Fayth which they also teach not to be auailable to saluation without other vertues Likewise it is cleare that S. Iames taketh Fayth in the same sense S. Paul did when he taught that a man is iustifyed by fayth for which cause S. Augustine noteth that he tooke the same example of Abraham which S. Paul vsed purposely to disproue the peruersity of some who misconstruing S. Paules meaning pleaded the sufficiency of fayth alone of which see S. Augustine in his booke of Fayth and Workes where he auerreth that because this opinion of only fayth sprung vp in the dayes of the Apostles therefore S. Peter S. Iohn S. Iames and S. Iude in their Epistles directed their intent specially against the same earnestly auouching that Fayth without workes auaileth nothing By which it is manifest that S. Iames the rest spake not of the outward profession but of the inward fayth and beliefe of the hart to which S. Paul with charity attributeth iustification or els they all roued from the marke and disputed in vaine or S. Augustine the most faythfull Herald of all antiquity vtterly mistaketh the scope of their intention 5. My third argument I frame in this manner The Protestant who by fayth is iustifyed may after fall into fornication adultery and other damnable sinnes or not He will not seeke to perswade vs that he cannot fall into any sinne for that were to broach a new the Iouinian heresy which S. Austine S. Hierome haue long Aug. ep 29. de haer c. 82. Hier. l. 1. coâ—t Iou. since buryed in the lake of hell Fall then he may as experience teacheth of sundry forward Protestants Ministers also arraigned condemned for their villanies in this kind Wel theÌ„ suppose they may sinne I aske whether falling into these horrible crimes they loose their true fayth which they had before â— retaine it still To graunt that they loose it is to make all sinners not only grieuous offenders but either Atheists Heretikes or Infidells also for he that is bereft of Fayth must needes be infected with Atheisme Heresy or plaine Infidelity It is to deuide and separate them from al vnion with Christ and to cut them off with Wicliffe from being members of the Church it is to depriue them of the patronage of Christs imputed righteousnes or not imputing their sins and to make them sinne like misbeleeuers to death and damnation for Christ couereth not the sinnes of any according to them but of the faythfull only it is against the common axiomes of Fulke Whitaker and their followers who ween that true fayth once gotten can neuer be lost the print thereof according to Caluin can neuer be blotted out of the harts of Gods elect To hold that they still retaine their true fayth notwithstanding they wallow in Cahâ— l. 3. instit c. ◠§. 11. these sudds of vncleanes that their fayth alone doth iustify them is to hold that they still abyde in the state of saluation and may inioy the kingdome of heauen if they should chance to depart in that wretched case which is quite contrary to the Apostle Do not erre neither fornicatours nor seruers of Idols nor aduowterers nor the effeminate 1. Cor. 6. v. 9. 10. nor the lyers with mankind c. shall possesse the kingdome of God I know the iuggling they vse to delude this argument is that in thes sinners fayth is darkned during that tyme like the Sunne ouercast with clouds like the fire couered with the ashes like the tree in winter bereaued of her blossoms But all these exampls warre against them for the tree in winter is truly a tree enioying her vegetiue life the fire raked vp is perfect fire the Sun ouerclouded looseth not the beames of his naturall light although they be hindred from shining vnto vs. Therefore the darkened and Caluin in An â—id ad Canonem 28. sess 6. in Concil Trid â—ffirmeth Particulam aliquam vitiae fidei manore inter grauissimos lapsus couered fayth of the adulterer is true fayth perfect in the nature of fayth looseth not any motion of life or beame of grace which is due to fayth and if that alone be sufficient to iustify remayning in the adulterer it affoardeth to him the benefit of iustification and by necessary consequence also of saluation for no winter barrenes no embers or
be that can neuer according to you worke your iustification and yet they all speake of a fayth which by Charity profiteth by Charity iustifyeth 2. And if S. Augustine may construe his owne meaning he expoundeth himselfe to meane of the same fayth not to profit without Charity which hauing Charity Augu. l. 15. de Trin. c. 18. worketh by loue so discerning it from that fayth with which the Diuells beleeue tremble But that fayth which worketh by loue that which is so distinguished from the fayth of Diuels is euen in our Protestants opinion true Fayth True fayth then may be but profiteth not without loue of which loue S. Augustine writeth thus in the beginning Aug. ibid. Nuâ—â—um est isto dono excellentius solum est quod diuidit inter filios regni aeterni filios perditionis aeternae VVhitak l. 1. aduers Duraeum Abbotc 4. August ibidem Dilectio igitur quae ex Deo est diffunditur in cordi bus nostris Dei charitas per quam nos tota inhabitat Trinitas VVhitak l 8. aduers Duraeum August l. de nat grat c. 42. Ibid. c. 70. August tract 5. in epist Ioan. of that Chapter No gift is more excellent then this it is the only thing which maketh a difference between the sonns of the euerlasting kingdome and sonnes of eternall damnation And he affirmeth not that of any outward difference or externall diuision of iustification in the sight of men which is another subtile deuise of the Aduersary but of the internall before the face of the highest for he there concludeth of the same gift of Charity The loue therfore which is of God and is God is properly the holy Ghost by whome the Charity of God is diffused into our harts by which the whole Trinity inhabiteth in vs. But the inhabiting of the Blessed Trinity the infusion or dwelling of the Holy Ghost in our soules is not any outward signe distinguishing vs in the eyes of men but an inward seale or hidden stampe of our harts truly iustifying in the sight of God not imperfectly nor defectiuely only as Whitaker Snake-like finds another hole to creep away stopped vp in my former Treatise of Iustification but intierely perfectly Therfore S. Augustine auoucheth of Charity in another place Ipsa Charitas est verissima plenissima perfectissimaque iustitia Charity it selfe is most true most full most perfect iustice And Great Charity is great iustice perfect Charity is perfect iustice Likewise Only Loue discerneth betweene the sonnes of God and sonnes of the Diuell And a little after They that haue Charity are borne of God they that haue not are not borne of God Enioy whatsoeuer thou wilt and only want this it profiteth nothing other things if thou wantest haue this and thou hast fullfilled the Law 3 S. Paul sayth In Christ Iesus neither circumcision auayleth ought nor prepuce but Fayth that worketh by Charity Gal. 5. v 6. If Protestants would stand to the determination of the Apostle this exposition of his were inough to instruct them that the Fayth which he so often commended before the fayth to which he attributed our iustification is not as they imagine sole fayth but fayth formed with Charity and that Charity is the vertue which giueth fayth it selfe motion and actiuity towards iustice and saluation But M. Abbot and his Complices interpreting Abbot in his defence c. 4. sect 22. Perkins in his reform Cath. c. 4. 1. Tim. 1. v. 5. ad Col. 3. v. â—4 Rom. 13. v. 10. 1. Cor. 13. Abbot c. 4. f. 475. 476. Scripture according to their owne fancy will haue the Apostle to teach that Charity is the instrument of Fayth for mouing stirring abroad yet that fayth by it selfe doth wholy iustify which is notwithstanding refuted by the Apostles plaine discourse prouing Charity to be the end perfection and accomplishment of the Law Therefore not the instrument of fayth or inferiour to it but the chiefe and most excellent of all other vertues without which fayth it selfe profiteth nothing comparing it there with Fayth and Hope he affirmeth maior autem horum est Charitas the greater of these is Charity Wherfore to retort the argument in behalfe of Charity which M. Abbot vseth for the patronage of Fayth Seeing with God we cannot thinke that the greater is accepted for the lesse but rather the lesse for the greater not the Mistresse so to speake for the hand maydes sake but rather Abbot c. 4. sect 22. â— 474. 475. protesteth that neuer any translatour could light vpon this the band-maid for the Mistresse sake we must needs make fayth sayth he cleane opposite to the Apostle Charity say I conformable to the Apostle not the hand-mayd not the instrument but the Mistresse the chiefe and principall cause for which fayth is acceptable to God in the way of iustice as the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth import which signifyeth a hidden energy and inward efficacy force operation which Charity ministreth vnto fayth for the performing of vertuous deeds And the Syriacke Interpreter putteth it out of all doubt who maugre M. Abbots protestation to the contrary readeth it heer passiuely haimonuto deme thgameno ve kuâ—â—o Fayth which is made perfect or consumate by Charity Thus Guido Fabricius passiuely also translateth it Fides quae perficitur fayth which is perfected by Charity Fabric in â—â—s booke dâ—dicated to Henry the third King of Franâ—e prinâ—ed Ann. 1 503. laâ— c 2. v. 26. S. Iames explicating what kind of perfection this is calleth it the perfection of life and resembleth sayth without workes that is without Charity the fountaine from whence good workes proceed to a dead corpes without life soule or vitall operation therefore as the soule is not the instrument of the body but the true forme and principall cause which giueth life and motion vnto it so doth Charity likewise vnto Fayth not that Charity is the essentiall forme of Fayth as it is a Theological habit for so it hath her proper forme distinct from Charity but that Charity first aduanceth it to the state of perfect vertue to the preheminence of iustice giuing it the true forme life of iustification to which fayth only disposeth and maketh way before Secondly it affoardeth it the dignity of true and proper merit by giuing vs the spirit of adoptioÌ„ whereby our workes are meritorious and gratefull in the sight of God Thirdly it directeth and leuelleth it to a supernaturall end ordayning all our actions to the honour of God This is the life actiuity and operation which Charity communicateth to fayth to all vertue Abbot c. 4. sect 23. fol. 494. also To auouch as M. Abbot doth that fayth any one of these three wayes is either the seat or fountaine of spiritual life the nest wherin we lay our workes that we may hatch them the mother which breedeth and begetteth them vnto God is Ibid. sect 26. f. 48â—
quite contrary also to the Apostle who acknowledgeth Charity only to be the fountaine nurse or mother of vertues saying Charity is patient is benigne c. Charity 1. Cor. 13. v. 4. v. â— suffereth all things beleeueth all thinges hopeth all thinges beareth all things But how is it patieÌ„t How benigne c. not formally for that were to make it a monstrous vertue compounded of diuers speciall formes Causally then because it is the Mother that begetteth the nurse that cherisheth the soule that giueth life of grace vigour of iustice preheminence of merit to the whole army of vertues 4. How inexcusable now are our seduced Protestants how wretchedly inchaunted with their Ministers charms who engrosse all to fayth which the Secretaryes of the Holy Ghost ascribe to Charity How entitle they fayth alone to the possession of life which S. Iames affirmeth to be dead without the workes of Charity How enthrone they fayth in the highest chaire of eminent dignity when S. Paul defineth Charity to be greater then it Marry a veile they haue to maske themselues vnder For Fulk in c. 13. 1. Cor. sect 3. Abbot cap. 4. sect 22. fol. 478. Ephes 3. v. 17. Charity sayth M. Fulke and M. Abbot with him is the greater in regard of continuance because fayth is but for a time Charity abydeth for euer Then it is the greatest also quoth M. Abbot if we respect latitude of vse for Charity is extended euery way to God to Angells to Men c. But if we consider man priuatly in himselfe and for his owne vse Fayth is more excellent then Charity as wherein our communion and fellowship with God by which Christ dwelleth in our harts into which as a hand God putteth all the riches of his grace for our saluation and by which whatsoeuer els Abbot fol. 479. in vs is commended vnto God Therefore he concludeth that to saue and iustify fayth is the greater So he It is true that Charity continueth when Fayth is euacuated but one truth ought not to impeach another that cannot derogat from the excellency of Charity in many other pointes wherein both Scriptures and Fathers giue her the preheminence But as for latitude of vse as you there take it Bern. serm â— in vigil nat Christ Fides veluti quoddaÌ„ aeternitatis exemplar praeterita simul praesentia ac futura â—iâ—u suo vastissimo coÌ„prehendit for the materiall obiects which they respect very false it is that Charity extendeth to more thinges then Fayth because fayth mounteth to God to Angells to men c. it descendeth to hell to the Diuels to their perpetuall torments it stretcheth it selfe to the fall of Adam to the deluge past to the future iudgment and many other obiects which Charity imbraceth not it reacheth besides to all tymes which either are haue beene or shall be heerafter Therefore S. Bernard calleth it The image or paterne of eternity which in her wide and vast bosome comprehendeth all thinges both past present and to come 5. Howbeit let this goe on the score of other the Authors rash and inconsiderate speaches The marke I shoot at is that Charity is preferred before fayth euen in the worke of iustificatioÌ„ and saluation of our soules in all these particulers in which M. Abbot giueth the first Abbot vbi supra 1. Cor. 13. Ioan. 1. c. 4. v. 12. Rom. 5. Ephes 3. 17. Aug. de spir lit cap. 17. Charitas lex est fidei spiritus viuificans dilectorem August tract 9. in ep Ioan. Chrys de incoÌ„p Dei nat hom 1. Leo ser 8. de Epipha Basil in proem de vera pia fide Prosp l. 3. de vita coÌ„temp c. 13. Ambr. in c. 13. Cor. Berna ser 24. super Cant. Idem serm 2. de resur chiefest place to fayth for when the Apostle defineth we are nothing without Charity he meaneth surely that we are nothing in the fauour of God nothing in the way of grace in the way of iustice and saluation S. Iames and S. Augustine meane the like whome I cyted aboue Moreouer haue I not already shewed that Charity adopteth vs to be the children of God that by Charity we are regenerated and new borne in Christ that by Charity the Holy Ghost by Charity God himselfe is harboured in our soules If we loue one another God abydeth in vs and his Charity in vs is perfected Also The Charity of God is powred forth into our harts by the holy Ghost which is giuen vs And if M. Abbot had not vsed his dexterity leauing out the wordes which maketh against him he might haue read in that very place which he quoteth for his purpose that not in Fayth but in Charity originally standeth our communion and fellowship with God for after these wordes By fayth Christ dwelleth in our hartes it immediatly followeth rooted and grounded in Charity Therefore Charity is the roote the origen or first beginning of Christs viuificall presence for as the tree draweth from the roote the sap of life so fayth from charity the liuely inhabitatioÌ„ of God in our harts For which cause S. Augustine sayth Charity it selfe diffused in the hart of the beleeuers is the law of Fayth and the spirit that giueth life to the loâ—er He calleth it otherwhere The health the beauty of the soule S. Chrysostome The chiefe good and head of all good thinges S. Leo The mother of all vertues S. Basil The proper budge or ensigne of a Christian man S. Prosper A Summary and abridgment of all good doings of the which euery good worke taketh his life S. Ambrose The head of Religion is Charity and he that had not the head hath not life c. Immediatly after Charity is the foundation of Religion S. Bernard sayth The separation of Charity is the death of fayth and he that deuideth them is tearmed by him Fideicida The murtherer of Fayth then he testifyeth with S. Augustine That Fayth taketh her life or soule from Charity Aug. l. de cognit verae vitae c. 37. 6. Further they affirme of Charity that it vniteth a Aug. de subst l. diâ—ect amoris and knitteth vs to God Marryeth b Bern. serm 83. in Cant. our soule to the word Marketh c Amb. l. 2. ep ep 7. man a friend to God Imparteth d Chrys in psal 132. heauen and vnspeakable good thinges to vs. He e Basil in institut Monach. that hath Charity hath God And f Idem in constit Monast c. 35. he that is depriued of Charity wanteth diuin grace By g Aug. l. de mor. Eccles cap. 13. Charity only it is wrought that we be not auerted from God and that we conforme our selues rather to him then to this world Moreouer say they Charity h Hilar. comment in Matth. ca. 4. couereth the multitude of sinnes By i Orig. hom 3. in c. 3. Leuit the aboundance of Charity remission of sinnes is made The
these three meanes is Aug. l. 2. in Iulian c. 8. imparted vnto vs. First by the lauer of regeneration in which all sinnes are remitted Then by wrastling with vices from whose guilt we are absolued Thirdly when our prayer is heard by which we say forgiue vs our trespasses Finally S. Iames Do you see that Iac. 2. v. 24. by workes a man is iustifyed and not by fayth only which as I haue declared aboue cannot be vnderstood of outward Gen. 15. v. c. Rom. 4. v. 9. but of inward iustification before the face of God of that wherin Fayth doth iustify yet not only not alone Of that wherein Abraham was iustifyed when it is sayd of him Abraham beeleued and it was reputed to him to iustice the chiefe place which D. Whitaker M. Abbot and their confederacy so often alleadge for their true iustifying and internall VVhitak l. 8. aduers Duraeum Abbot in his defence c. 4. VVhitak in his preface to the reprehens p. 4. Cent. 2. c. 4. Colum. 71. Sciendum est esse eam adulterinaÌ„ Fayth In so much as many of the Lutheran and Zuinglian Protestants either traduce that saying of the Apostle or discard the whole Epistle out of the Canon of holy Scripture by reason he disputeth heere so mightily against them For this moued Luther to account it no better then an Epistle of straw in comparison of the Epistles of Peter and Paul as Whitaker after impudent denyalls was constrayned to confesse by finding an old edition wherein Luther disgorged that blasphemous paralell that poysoned speach which his whelps the Magdeburgian Centurists licking vp after him cast forth in this manner It is to be vnderstood that that is a bastard or an adulterous Epistle Among other reasons they alleage this Because against Paul and against all Scriptures the epistle of Iames ascribeth Iustice to works and peruerteth as it were of set purpose that which Paul argueth out of Genesis that Abraham was iustifyed by only fayth without workes and auoucheth that Abraham obtayned iustice by workes Rom. 4. Gen. 15. Cent. 2. c. 4. Colum 71. Cent. 1. c. 4. Colum 54. Pomeran ad Rom c. 8 Musculus in locis coÌ„mun c. de iustific num 5. p. 271. Vitus Theod. in annot in nouum Testam p. vltim Illiricus in praf Iac. Rom. 4. And in the first Century The Epistle say they of Iames swarueth not a little from the Analogy of the Apostolicall doctrine whereas it attributeth iustification not to only Fayth but to workes and calleth the Law a Law of liberty 4. Pomeran another Lutheran of singular fame among them accuseth S. Iames of no lesse then three notorious faults heerin First of making a wicked argument Secondly of concluding ridiculously Thirdly of cyting Scripture against Scripture Wolfgangus Musculus also a famous Zuinglian rebuketh S. Iames That he alleadgeth the example of Abraham nothing to the purpose c. He confoundeth the true and properly Christian Fayth which the Apostle euer preacheth with that which is common to Iewes and Christians Turkes and Diuells c. and setteth downe his sentence so different from the Apostolicall doctrine The like is affirmed by Vitus Theodorus once preacher of Norimberge and by Illyricus a great Sholler of Luther who ioyne with vs against their owne sect-mates the Caluinists and all English Protestants in these two poynts First that S. Iames cannot be expounded of fayth outwardly professed but of the inward Christian fayth Secondly that Fayth alone doth not iustify according S. Iames but workes also in the same sense as S. Paul attributeth iustification to Fayth Therfore Luther boldly confesseth a contradiction betweene them which cannot be Luth. in collo conutualib latin tom 2. de libris noui Test. Idem in c. 22. Genes reconciled Many saith he haue taken great paines in the epistle of Iames to make it accord with Paul as Philip endeauoureth in his Apology but not with good successe for they are contrary faith doth iustify faith doth not iustify c. In another place he hath these wordes Abraham was iust by fayth before he is knowen such an one by God Therfore Iames doth naughtily conclude that now at the length he is iustified after this obedience for by works as by fruits faith and iustice is known but it followeth not vt Iacobus delirat as Iames dotingly affirmeth Therfore the fruites do iustify From whence we also gather that the spirit of our English Reformers is different from the spirit of Lutherans from the spirit of Zuinglians and so one of them a lying spirit in a capitall point in receauing the epistle of S. Iames for Canonicall and conteyning the true doctrine of the Apostles which they contemnâ— as apocriphall and varying from the Apostolicall doctrine in a substantiall article of fayth 5. But these things I leaue and come backe againe to my former discourse After the example of Abraham he confirmeth it with another of Rahab saying Also Rahab the harlot was not she iustified by workes receauing the Messengers Rom. 4. putting them out another way And then he coÌ„cludeth for euen as the body without spirit is dead so also fayth without good works is dead From which words these consequences may be manifestly drawn First as the body is a true body depriued of the spirit of life so fayth may be true fayth bereft of the life of Charity although dead fruitles without vigour force or actiuity to iustify as the body is dead without Iac. c. 2. v. 25. the soule SecoÌ„dly the spirit is not any outward effect only or sign of life but the true inward forme which giueth life to the body no more are works the effects only as Whitaker Ibidem v. 26. calleth the manifestations of righteousnes but the true causes also therof They do as Hugo commenteth vpon that passage by the works the fayth was consumate perfect Faytlr declare it augment and consumate it Yea they giue it the life VVhitak in his answere to M. Camp 8. reason Huge in illum loâ—uÌ„ Iac. c. 2. v. 22. efficacy both of the first and second iustification for if we vnderstand by workes the spring or fountaine from whence liuely workes proceed whch is Charity they formally impart to Faith the first life efficacy of Iustice If other actions operations which flow from Charity they meritoriously attribute the second life of iustification which is the augmentation perfection and full accomplishment of the former S. Ambrose interpreteth them of the fountaine and first life explicating those words of the Apocalyps I know thy workes that thou hast the name that thou liuest thou art dead He hath the name that he liued that Ambr. in c. 3. Apo. is the name of a Christian but he was dead because he had not the works of fayth which is Charity c. as the body is dead without the soule so also if all good things we seem to haue they are
dead if Charity be wanting S. Augustine and S. Chrysostome Ambros ibidem Aug. l. 83. q q. 76. de fide oper c. 14. 15 praes in psal 3â— Chrys ho. 3. in c. 1. Gen. expound them of the works which flow from Charity and so they are true causes in way of merit of the second life which is the increase and consumation of iustice 6. To which purpose I remember an argument with which a Priest taken prisoner in Oxford once vrged D. Rauies then Deane of Christs Church after pretensed Bishop of London to proue that good workes taking them in the former two senses heer specifyed truly concurre to all kind of iustice His first Syllogisme was this Omnis iustificatio est ex fide viua Omnis fides viua ex bonis operibus Ergo omnis iustificatio est exbonis operibus In English thus Al iustificatioÌ„ proceeds from liuely Fayth All liuely fayth from good Workes Therfore all iustificatioÌ„ proceeds from good Workes Doctour Rauyes answered by distinguishing the Minor proposition thus Omnis fides viua est ex bonis operibus concomiâ—anter concedo cooperanter nego That is all liuely fayth proceeds from good workes concomitantly as a figne which accompanyeth it not cooperantly as the cause which worketh and effecteth the same Against which distinction the Priest replyed in this manner Vita non concomitatur sed cooperatur ad substantiam rei cuius est vita Sed bona opera sunt vita fidei viuae Ergo non concomitantur sed cooperantur ad substaÌ„tiam fidei viuâ— In English thus Life doth not accoÌ„pany or concomitate but worke or cooperate to the substance of the thing whose life it is But good workes are the life of liuely fayth Therefore they do not accompany or concomitate but worke or cooperate to the substance of liuely fayth M. Rauies not knowing against what proposition he shold contest yet ashamed either to yield or say nothing denyed flatly the argument with this exception habet enim quator terminos it hath foures termes And when the disputant replyed it had but three the Deane could not be drawne to assigne any fourth terme or discouer any fault in the Syllogisme but dismissed the Priest from his lodging brake off the disputation without any further satisfaction either to him or the auditory Which I leaue to the scanning of the iudicious Reader and will support the mayne Controuersy I haue in hand by some other suffrages of antiquity besides those I haue heere and there interlaced in explaning the Texts of Scripture 7. Origen As often as we sinne sayth he we are borne of Zabulon that is of the Diuell Vnhappy is he who is alwayes engendred of Zabulon and againe very happy who is alwayes borne of God for I will not say that this man is once borne of God but Orig. hom 9. in Isa by euery worke of vertue the iust man is euer borne of God And if you demand how He telleth you euen as heÌ„ that offendeth becommeth the slaue of Sathan more wicked and detestable before the face of God S. Augustine Hast thou money August serm 20. de verb. Dom. secund Matth. c. 3. Psal 1â—1 bestow it by bestowing money thou increasest iustice For he dispersed he distributed he gaue to the poore his iustice abydeth for euer Be hould what is diminished and what increased that is diminished which thou art to dismisse that is diminished which thou art to forsake that is increased which thou art to possesse for euer Could he write more pregnantly for vs But it is labour lost to cyte more authorityes The Centurists haue gathered innumerable to my hands whose wordes I will only repeate to checke our Protestants with a double argument at one instance with the testimony of the Father and acknowledgment of the aduerse part that he giueth in euidence vnanswerable on our side 8. In the first hundred yeares you haue heard what they write of S. Iames. In the second flourished as they Cent. â— c. 4. Colum. â—4 recount them Ignatius Theophilâ—s Antiochenus Serapion Papias c. Clemens Alexandrinus Quadratus Aristides Dionysius Corinthus Bacchylus Iustinus Irenaeus and the rest Of whome they auouch The article of iustification they haue not vnfolded clearely inough they haue ascribed more then they ought to the workes of the iustifyed which proceeded perchance from the errour of the false Apostles concerning the necessity of workes to Prefat in Centur. 2. dedicated to the most illustrious Princes Iohn Frederike the second Iohn Albertus c. and placed insome editions before the second bookâ— of the first Century Cent. 2. c. 4. Col. 60. 61. Clem. in paren l. 6. strom Cent. 2. c. 4. Col. 60. 61. Theophil l. 2. ad Autolic Niceph. l. 3. histor c. 15. Gent 2. c. 10. Colum. 169. 170. 171. Cent. 3. c. 4. Colum. 79. 80. 81. saluation The Martyrdome of Saints they extolled with such incredible prayses that some began to thinke them expiations or appeasements of sinnes Then they censure by name Clemens Alexandrinus for contradicting himselfe in writing thus Let it not repent you to haue laboured It is in your power if you will to buy most precious saluation with your proper treasure with Charity and Fayth of life which is truly a iust price which God doth willingly accept c. He placeth square and complete iustice in the perfection of vertue and to that he accommodateth the imputation of Abraham c. The like altogeather hath Theophilus Of set purpose he sayth that God created man free and of his owne arbitrement which yet might be excused if he added not these thinges which follow God hath communicated a Law and holy Precepts vnto vs which if a man obserue he may attaine saluation and rysing may purchase an incorruptible inheritance Besides He seemeth say they either to haue beene wholy ignorant or not to haue sufficiently explicated the word of the Ghospell for he doth plainely affirme that man by the obedience according to the Law may procure saluation and life euerlasting to himselfe And yet they obserue that Nicephorus accounteth this Theophilus the sixt Bishop of Antioch to whome S. Luke dedicated his Ghospel the Actes of the Apostles and themselues commend him for his learning zeale and constancy and report him to haue beene A writer of many excellent workes a propugnatour of the fayth and vanquisher of many heresyes the lesse are they to be credited when they after accuse him as wholy ignorant of the word of the Ghospell 9. In the third hundred years they reproach Origen the authour of the Homilies vpon the Canticles Methodius Tertullian and S. Cyprian for the like errour and first affirme of them in generall They attributed vnto workes iustice before God c. So Origen with full mouth declameth of the iustice of Iob. He only pronounceth him to be iustifyed for his vertues Orig. l. 1. in Iob. and legall workes
c. He also thinketh some whose fayth is enobled with no accesse of works may indeed be * To wit infants and such as by Baptism or contrition being iustifyed are preuented by death before they can accomplish any good workes Method serm de resurr Cuius fragmentum extat apud Epiphan l. 2. tom 1. Tertul. l. aduers Iudaeos Cent. 3. c. eo Colum. â—40 saued but attaine not to the height of the kingdome or liberty which say they what is it other then without works no man to be perfectly iustifyed And the Authour of the homilyeâ—in Cantica maketh a double iustice one of Fayth another of Workes and truly to ech of them â—e imputeth saluation c. Methodius seemeth to hold that we are iustifyed by the obseruation and fullfilling of the naturall law which is performed by the ayde and help of Christ Tertullian sayth The Saints were iust by the iustice * Done by grace and fayth in Christ Cent. 3. c. 4. Col. 80. 81. Cypr. l. 3. ep 25. Serm de eleemos Tob. 4. v. 11. Eccles 3. v 33. Ioan. 5. v. 14. Serm. de eleemos Cent. 4. c. 4. Colum. 292. 293. Cent. 4. c. 4. Col. 292. 283. of the law of nature He attributeth to satisfaction remission of sinnes teaching nothing in the meane tyme perspicuously of the fayth in Christ or of free remission of sinnes as almost no where doth he either touch plainely inough or handleth very slenderly the article of the Ghospell and iustification With which errour Cyprian yieldeth to descipline or strict obseruation of good life That it is the guardian of hope the retentiue or stay it maketh vs alwayes remayne in Christ continually liue in God and to arriue to the heauenly and diuine promised rewards c. So he professedly teacheth sinnes committed after Baptisme by almes deeds and good workes to be abolished At once sayth he in Baptisme remission of sinnes is giuen dayly and continuall doing of good after the imitation of Baptisme imparteth the indulgence and mercy of God which he endeauoureth to proue by words of Scripture as by almesdeeds and fayth sinnes are purged As water extinguisheth fire so almesdeeds sinne also by the saying of Chryst Behould thou art whole see thou sinne no more least some worse thing befall thee he reasoneth that by good workes saluation had is to be kept and lost to be recouered 10. In the fourth hundred yeare they reproue for the same cause Lactantius Nilus Chromatius Ephrem S. Hierome S. Gregory Nissen S. Hilary S. Ambrose and Theophilâ—â— Alexandrinâ—â— Some of their words I will set downe as they are recorded by the Centurists the rest I omit for breuityes sake Lactantius say they auerreth that God giueth eternall saluation for our vertues labours afflictions torments c. Lactant. l. 7. c. 27. l. 3. c. 9. Chrom in conc de beatid Cent. 4. c. 4. Col. 301. Voluntariam paupertatem suo merito diuitias regni caelestis acquirere ait Eadem cent col 192. l. 8. comment in Isa EadeÌ„ cent Col. 293. Ambr. l. 10. ep ep 82. Qui sunt hi Preceptores noui qui merituÌ„ excludunt iâ—iunij EadeÌ„ cent col 293. Theoph. Alexand. l. 3. Pasch Cent. 5. c. 4. Colum. 504. 505. 506. 507. 508. 509. 510. c. 10. colum 1008. Chrys hom 6 in c. 1. Ioan. c. 4. col Cent. 5. c. 4 Colum. 504. Chrysost hom 20. in e. 2. Ioan. eadem cent 506. Cyril c. 18. in Ioan. Eadem cent c. 4. col 505. citant Aug. it a dicentem l. 2. de peccat merit c. 3. 4. c. haec de Aug. cent 5. c. 4. colum 507. 508. To serue God sayth he is nothing els then by good workes to maintaine and preserue iustice Chromatius attributeth so much to voluntary pouerty that he auerrâ—th the riches of the heauenly kingdome to be attayned by the merit thereof Hierome sayth It is not inough to haue the wall of fayth vnles fayth it selfe be strengthned with good workes S. Ambrose What saluation can we haue vnles by fasting we wash away our sinnes When as the Scripture fayth fasting and almesdeeds deliuereth from sinne Who are therefore these new Maisters who exclude or deny the merit of fasting Is not this the voice of the Gentils saying Let vs eate and drinke c. Theophilus Alexandrinus Such as fast that is imitate in earth Angelicall conuersation through the vertue of abstinence by a short and small labour gaine to themselues great and eternall rewards 11. In the fift age are traduced by them in like manner S. Chrysostome S. Cyrill S. Leo S. Augustine Theodoret Sedulius Prosper Hesychius Primasius Theodulus Saluianus Maximus Salonius Thalasius Marcus Eremita Eucherius and Paulinus For in the beginning of that Paragraffe of Iustification thus they write Most of the Doctours of this age ascribe also too much to workes in iustification and acceptation of men before God c. Chrysostome speaketh of many wayes or kindes of iustification c. Chrysostome is an immoderate Encomiast or prayser of humane workes For this he sayth Let vs endeauour withall our forces to attaine saluation by our owne good workes c. Againe Is it inough to life euerlasting to belieue in the Sonne No truly c. Cyrill also contendeth that fayth alone sufficeth not to saluation but fayth and workes Augustin attributeth sometyme too much too workes c. He recyteth some testimonyes by which he proueth euill workes to condemne good workes to merit eternall life As out of the first to the Corinthians the sixt Chapter Out of the first to the Galathians out of the ninetenth and fiue and twentith of S. Matthew Theodoret contrary to himselfe affirmeth Theâ—d quest 63. in Exod. ita asserunt de Theod. cent 5. c. 10. col 1008. Prosp l. 1. de vit contemp c. 19. Cent. 5. Col. 505. that only fayth is not sufficient to saluation but it needeth workes Prosper sayth Neither workes without Fayth nor fayth alone without workes doth iustify Hitherto the Centurists 12. And yet they are not singular in condemning all these Doctours of the Church Pomeran once Superintendent of Wittemberge sayth In the books of the Ecclesiasticall Doctours seldome shall you find the article of Iustification purely expressed not certes in the bookes of Athanasius A little after Touching Iustification they write at a venter whatsoeuer coÌ„meth in their mind Then he concludeth You ought not to beleeue the Fathers because out of the same mouth they blow both heate and could Chytraeus another Protestant complaineth that not Chytr l. de stud theol only Basil and Hierome but most of the Fathers either very sleightly touch or darken and depraue with politicke opinions concerning the iustice of the law the speciall doctrine of the Ghospell touching the grace of God and Iustice of fayth which is the chiefe and proper patrimony of the Church Schnepsius one of the same fraternity sayth Augustine neuer vnderstood the true and settled Schâ—â—ps
3. instit c. 2. §. 2. Luc. 18. v. 41. persons had not at the first any thought or imagination vnles it were in a couert implicite as the Schoolemen call it and vnexpressed Fayth which Protestantes deride with Caluin their forerunner but they all specify the Fayth of miracles grounded on the power of God which our Reformers deny to be sufficient for saluation For what was the fayth of the womaÌ„ healed of her bloudy fluxe but the fayth of miracles by which she beleeued such power and vertue in Christ as she sayd in her hart If I shall touch only his garment I shal be safe What was the fayth of the blind man but the fayth of miracles that Christ could restore him his sight What wilt thou that I do â—o thee He sayd Lord that I may see What the fayth of the Prince of the Synagogue but the fayth of miracles that Christ could recall to life his deceased daughter The same I auerre of the rest yet this later was not the proper fayth of the reuiued daughter but the fayth of the Father So the Fayth which Christ chiefly regarded in pardoning the man sicke of the palsy was the â—ayth of those that carryed him brought him vp vpon the roofe through the tyles let him downe Iesus seeing their fayth whereby Matth. 9. v. 2. Luc. 5. v. 19. though we Catholikes proue that the Fayth of one may preuaile to obtaine health and safety for another yet no Sectarye graunteth that the fayth of one can iustify another Therefore not one of these places serueth to rayse but all pluck downe the rampire of their iustifying fayth in so much as they labour to vnderprop it by some other testimonyes crowded into the selfe same rancke as the iust liueth by Fayth Abraham beleeued and it was reputed him to iustice Being iustifyed by Fayth let vs haue peace towards God Likewise Abac. 2. v. 4. Rom. 4. v. 3. Rom. 5. v. 1. Act. 13. v 39. 1. Ioan. 5. v. 1. Gabr. Vasq in 1. 2. disp 210. c. 7. Clemens Alexand. l. 2. Strom. Orig. in 4 ad Rom August serm 22. de verb. Dom. de hono perseu c. â— serm â—6 de verb. Apo. In him euery one that beleeueth is iustifyed whosoeuer beleeueth that Iesus is Christ iâ— borne of God 15. All which haue so many true and litterall expositions as it can betoken no lesse then grosse dulnes in Protestant Ministers who either for want of reading did not find or finding conceaued not some one of them The first is that by Fayth we liue are iustifyed and are made the children of God inchoatiuely as the Deuines speake because fayth is the first supernaturall seed roote or beginning from which our iustification springeth and the first foundation or ground-worke vpon which our whole spirituall building relyeth as Gabriel Vasquez solidly proueth by the authority of Clemens Alexandrinus Origen and S. Augustine Secondly Fayth iustifyeth by way of impetration excyting our will by the consideration of Gods goodnes and other beleeued mysteryes to aske and obtayne the remission of our faults iustice of our soules Thus S. Augustine often interpreteth those and the like wordes of S. Paul saying Therefore by fayth the Apostle affirmeth man to be iustifyed not of workes because sayth is first giuen by which the rest are impetrated by the law the knowledge of sinne by fayth impetration of grace against sinne by grace health and saluation of the soule The same in diuers other places Not workes but fayth doth inchoate merit Aug. l. de praedestin Sanctor c. 7. de spir lit c. 30. Idem epist. 105 106 Idem l. de gra lib arbit c. 14. defide oper c. 21. August l. de grat lib. arbitr cap. 7. Thirdly all the former places may be vnderstood of liuely fayth formed with Charity and accompanyed with the retinue of other vertues which wholy and intierely iustify vs in the sight of that infinite Maiesty So also S. Augustine Men not vnderstanding that which the Apostle sayth we count a man to be iustifyed by Fayth c. did thinke that he sayd Fayth would suffice a man though he liued ill and had no good workes which God forbid the Vessell of Election should thinke who in a certaine place after he had sayd In Christ Iesus neither circumcision nor prepuce auayleth any whit he straight added but fayth which worketh by loue Fourthly fayth as all other vertuous and laudable acts flowing from Grace doth likewise iustify meritoriously by procuring increase of former iustice Therefore S. Paul to the Hebrewes sayth of holy men and Prophets That by fayth they ouercame kingdomes Hebr. 11. v. 33. Cypr. l. 4 ep 6. wrought iustice obtayned promises And S. Cyprian teacheth That God in the day of iudgment payeth the reward of Fayth and deuotion These foure wayes the forenamed Texts may be truly vnderstood howbeit our Reformers stupidity was such as they could not light on them euery Apo. 22 v. 17. Isa 55. v. 1. Rom. 3. v. 24. Ephes 2. v. 8. where obuious to the diligent searcher 16. The second bande of Obiections are those which affirme our iustification to be freely made by the benefite of grace therefore without the supply of works viz. He that thirsteth let him come and he that will let him take the water of life gratis All yee that thirst come to the waters c. come buy without siluer without any exchange wine and milke Aug. l. de spir lit c. 10. 16. Cent. 5. c 4. Colum. 505. Againe Iustifyed gratis by his grace By grace you are saued thorough Fayth I answere our first Iustification is free gratis because fayth which first beginneth and stirreth vs vp vnto it is freely giuen vs Charity which after accomplisheth it is likewise freely imparted not due to nature or hauing any connexion or dependance with our naturall actions be they neuer so good or commendable in themselues which is not my exposition but the interpretation of S. Augustine confirmed by the diuine sentence of the thrice holy Councell of Trent By grace man is iustifyed Similia habet Aug. in psal 18. exp 2. ep 106. de praedest Sanctor c. 15 praef in psal 31. Concil Trid sess 6. c. 8. Ioan. 6. v. 2â— that is no merits of his workes going before and which the Centurists reprehend the Apostle will haue nothing els vnderstood in that which he sayth gratis but that workes do not precede Iustification The Councell of Trent hath defyned the same Therefore we are sayd to be freely iustifyed because none of those thinges which go before iustification whether it be fayth or workes do promerit the grace it selfe of iustification But if our Aduersaryes by reason that iustification is free and of the grace of Christ will renounce all workes they must euen renounce true fayth itselfe of which S. Iohn sayth This is the worke of God that yee beleeue
in him Or if that work doth not hinder the free grace of iustification in Protestants conceit because it is the gift of God because it doth not iustify according to them as it is an actioÌ„ proceeding froÌ„ man but as it taketh hold and applyeth vnto them the iustice of Christ Why should our preparatiue workes any way preiudicate the freedome of that fauour as long as we acknowledg theÌ„ also the meer guift of the highest and not to dispose vs to the life of grace as they are achieued by our owne forces alone or flow from the drye and barren soyle of Nature but as they are made fertile by the water of the holy Ghost as they are eleuated and inspired by his viuificall motion For if the Beggar which is Cardinall Tolets example who of his owne accord Toleâ— in c. 3. ad Rom. stretcheth out his hand to receaue the offered almes doth not hinder the francke and liberall bestowing of the money much lesse should the cooperation of our freewill which not of our selues not of our owne endeauours but moued and strengthned by God yieldeth to his motions any way withstand his liberall donation and free guift of Iustice 17. In the last wing wherein the only hope of their victory remayneth such sentences of Scripture are ranged as flatly debarre the concurrence of workes from all kind of Iustice to wit By grace you are saued through fayth and that not of your selues for it is the guift of God not of workes that no man glory We account a man to be iustifyed by fayth without the Ephes 2. v. 8. Rom. 3. v. 28. Rom. 11. v. 6. Rom. 4. v. 2. workes of the law If by grace not now of workes otherwise grace now is not grace If Abraham were iustifyed by workes he hath glory but not with God with many others to the same purpose I answere that the Apostle excludeth indeed from the grace of iustification either first or second all workes which proceed from the vigour or strength of nature on which the Pelagians so much relyed Then he excludeth the good vse and exercise of freewil done without Christ to which the Semipelagians ascribed the dowry of grace Thirdly he excludeth the moral vertues performed by the Act. 15. v. 1. Aug. l 5. cont 2. ep Pelag. c. 7. in prâ—f ps 3â— ep 107. tract 50 de verb. Domini secundum Euang. Matth. Hier. l. â— com in c. 3. ad Gal. Prosper cont collat c. 22. Cent. 3. c. 4. Col. 80. ciâ—ant Orig. l. 8. in epist ad Rom. light of reason precepts of naturall Philosophy wherin the Gentils boasted and placed their happines Lastly he excludeth all works achieued by the sole notice of the Law both cerimoniall and morall in which the Iewes trusted so farre as they deemed themselues thereby only assured of Gods fauour and some of them vrged the necessity of circumcision the obseruation of their ceremonyes euen to Gentils conuerted vnto Christ of whome they auouched Vnles you be eireumcised you cannot be saued 18. Against these the Apostle so often inculcateth that neither circumcision prepuce nor any worke either of Iew or Gentill done by themselues or by the knowledge of the law without the grace of the Spirit inwardly mouing is able to saue them but he neuer excludeth the Sacraments of Baptisme or Pennance nor the works proceeding from the help of supernaturall grace to be dispositions to attaine the first true causes of increase in the second iustification whereof read S. Augustine S. Hierome and Prosper who interprete the Apostls meaning in the selfe same manner as I haue heere declared which interpretation the Century-writers haue also espyed and reproued in Origen engrossing these wordes in the Catalogue as they account them of his errours It is to be vnderstood that the workes which S. Paul reiecteth and so often reprehendeth are not the iustices which are commanded in the Law but those thinges in which they boast and glory who obserue the law according to the flesh or rites of sacrifices or obseruation of Sabaoths and new Monnes these and the like are the Concil Trid. sesl 6. Can. 1. Fulk in c. 2. Iacob sect 9. Fulk ibid. Vasq in 1. 2. disp 210. cap. 9. VVhitak l. 1. aduerf Duraeum VVhitak in his answere to M. CampiaÌ„ 8. reason â—ulke in c. 2. Iac. sect 9. Abbot in his defence c. 4. Ambr. in c. 3. 4. ad Rom. Chrys in c. 3. ad Gal. hom 7. in c. 3. ad Rom. Basil serm de humiâ—it Aug. l. 1. cont 2. ep Pelag. c. 21. l. 83. q. 76. Hesich in Leuit. l. 4. cap. 14. Hilar. cap. in Matth. August tract 49. in Ioan. workes by which he auoucheth no man may be saued Hitherto Origen quoted by the Magdeburgians To which purpose the Councell of Trent hath very diuinely decreed If any shall teach man may be iustifyed before God by his works which either by humane nature or by the doctrine of the Law are accomplished without the diuine grace of Iesus Christ let him be accursed According to this authentical exposition S. Paul and S. Iames are clearely discharged from that irreconciliable contradiction M. Fulke imagineth betweene them in our opinion for either S. Paul speaketh of the first iustification and S. Iames of the second which is not as he mistaketh another kind of iustification but the augmentation of the former or they both treate of the first and second also as Gabriel Vasquez thinketh most probable and the one excludeth workes wrought without the inward motion of grace from iustification the other acknowledgeth such workes to cooperate thereunto as proceed from grace which is no contradiction but the true and vndoubted position of our Catholike fayth 19. Although all the sentences of the Fathers which are stumbling blockes in our Reformers way be satisfyed in the same manner as these Texts of Scripture yet to ease the studious Reader from further trauaile I will particulerly set downe how the chiefest of them are to be vnderstood whome our Reformers oppose against vs concerning this point S. Ambrose S. Chrysostome S. Basil S. Augustine Hesichius and S. Hilary when they affirme vs iustifyed by fayth alone without any workes they mean without any workes eyther of our owne or of Moyses law done without grace Or they are to be interpreted of Fayth which is liuely indewed with Charity and accompanyed with other vertues So S. Augustine in his treatises vpon S. Iohn when he sayth Fayth is the soule of our soule Prosper S. Bernard and S. Augustine againe in the seauenth Chapter of his booke of predestination of Saints Prosp de voca gent. l. â— c. 8 9. Bernar ser 22 in cant Aug. de praedest Sanctor c. cap. 7. Leo serm de Epiphaâ— alibi Orig. in c. 3. ad Rom. Chrysost hom de fide lege nâ—turae Vasq in â— 2. disp 210. c. 9. are to be interpreted of fayth alone inchoatiuely S. Leo
auerreth That the only Catholike fayth quickneth sanctifyeth giueth life excluding not any workes but the false beliefe of Heretikes Origen vpon the third Chapter to the Romans and S. Chrysostome in his booke of Fayth and the law of Nature attribute Iustification to fayth alone without the outward accomplishment of any externall worke or without the precedent obseruation of the law whether it be externall or internall according to Vasquez both exemplifying in the theese vpon the Crosse so that among all the Fathers whom they obiect no one giueth sentence on their side 20. Finally besides these authorityes and the former common obiections one the Aduersarie yet reserueth as his sole Achilles and properly belonging to this place that our pious and godly workes are outward tokens only and manifestations as whitaker calleth them of inward righteousnes but not the causes which augment or make vs more iust for as the tree is not made good by the VVhitak in his answer to the 8. reason of M. Campian fol. 254. fruites it beareth but only declared and knowne to be such no more can a iust man become more iust by the fruits of good workes which he produceth but only be discouered and knowne to be iust because as the fruits presuppose the goodnes of the tree from whence they spring and do not make it good so good workes prerequire iustice in the worker and cannot concurre to constitute Matth. 71 v. 17. Maldon in c. 7. Matt. him iust Whereupon Christ compareth the iust man with a good tree which bringeth forth good fruits and cannot produce euill the wicked to an euill tree which shooteth forth euill and cannot bring good I answere with Maldonate first by retorting the argument vpon my Aduersaryes If by good works we cannot be made but only knowne to be good it followeth by necessary consequence that by euill works we cannot become euill but only declared and signifyed to be such So Adam being once a good tree planted by God either could not degenerate and bring forth the euill fruits of sinne as he did or by sinning was not made euill or worse then before by iniustly transgressing the Commandment of God became A differeÌ„ce betweene naturall and morall causes necessary to be noted not indeed vniust but was only marked figured with the notes of iniustice which cannot be affirmed without plaine impiety Secondly I answere that there is a great difference between naturall and morall causes as euery Nouice in our Schooles can instruct you Naturall causes by their good or euill effects are neither made good or euill better or worse as the fire waxeth not more hoat by the heate it casteth nor the stocke of the vine in it selfe more fruitful by the outward braÌ„ches it spreadeth abroad but these only demonstrate the fruitfullnes of the vine or heate of the fire Morall causes do not only worke well or badly because they are good or euill but by vvorking vvell or euilly they grovv good or euill become better or vvorse As vvee do not only liue temperatly because vve are teÌ„perate but by many acts of temperance become Arist l. 2. de mori c. 1. Ibid. c. 2. VVhitak l. 1. 8. aduers Duraeum August l. de fide oper c. 14. in psal 31. S. Thom. in Gal. 3. lect 4. Ambr. in cap. 8. ad Rom. Beda in c. â— ep lac temperate by the like dayly go forward increase in temperance For sayth Aristotle As by building builders by singing to the harpe men arriue to be cunning harpers or musitians so by doing good things men become iust by temperate things temperate by valiant exployts valiant Likewise by accustoming our selues to contemne and endure things fearefull and to be dreaded fortes efficimur we grow stout couragious Therfore although the tree which is a naturall cause of budding fruits receaueth not from them any sparke of life or increase of goodnes yet the iust man who is a morall cause in acheiuing good workes is more quickned in spirituall life and perfected in iustice by achieuing of them 21. Then they vrge out of S. Augustine That good workes go not before the iustifyed but follow him that is iust Out of S. Thomas Workes are not the cause that any one is iust before God but rather the executions and manifestations of Iustice. The like out of S. Ambrose Venerable Bede others I answere they are manifestations and remonstrances of the first iustice of the first infusion of grace as S. Thomas expoundeth himselfe and so they follow and are not the cause S. Thom. in c. 2. ad Gal. that any one is iust in that kind yet this withstandeth not but that they perfect and increase the infused iustice as true meritorious and morall causes thereof which is all that we require all that the Oecumenicall holy Councell of Trent hath enacted touching the Iustice of our works quickned with the seed or watered with the due of Gods celestiall grace The end of the fourth Booke THE FIFTH BOOKE THE XXII CONTROVERSY DISPROVETH The Protestants certainty of Saluation against D. Whitaker and D. Abbot CHAP. I. SO deep and vnsearchable are the iudgements of God so close and inscrutable the inuolutions of mans hart his foldes so secret so many his retraytes his search so weake in matters of spirit so hidden and vnknown the operations of grace the feares the doubts the anxiety so innumerable which the best belieuing Protestants and Ministers themselues feele in their consciences as I am wonderfully astonished at this arrogant speach that they should be all infallibly assured and vndoubtedly certaine of their saluation and my astonishment is the greater when I read the sentence of God and Eâ—â—â—â—â— 9. v. 1. 2. verdict of the holy Ghost passe against them in these tearmes vncontrollable There are iust men and wise and their workes are in the hand of God and yet man knoweth not whether he be worthy of loue or hatred but all things are reserued vncertain Prou. c. 20 v. 9. for the tyme to come And who can say my hart is cleane I am pure from sinne Where Salomon doth not affirme as Venerable Bede noteth vpon that place That a man cannot be but that he cannot certainly say or know himselfe to be pure from Beds in eum locum Eccles 5. v. VVhitak l. 8. aduers Duraeum Abbot in his defence c. 4. f. 330. 331. c. Calu. l. 3. instit c. 2. §. 38. sinne Likewise Of sinne forgiuen be not without feare or as whitaker readeth out of the Greeke Of expiation or pardon be not secure To the first of these three testimonyes M. Abbot replyeth with Caluin his Maister That by outward things by thinges that are before our face a man knoweth not whether he be beloued or hated of God howbeit he may otherwise infallibly know it But this answere cannot be shaped to the latter clause of that sentence All thinges are
in his 5. conclusion fol. 656. still and stand in doubt of saluation wherwith M. Reynoldes slaundereth vs. For the probability or morall certainty which we acknowledge ought not to trouble the peace of our Consciences nor anxiously distract much lesse torment the quietnes of our mindes It is a probability intermixed with feare and nourished with such comfortable VVhitak l. 8. aduer Duraeum and stedfast hope with such filial loue as banisheth all combersome anxiety all wauering doubtfullnes all seruile base and troublesome solicitude That which Whitaker so eagerly presseth against Duraeus Try your owneselues if you be in the fayth proue your selues know you 2. Cor. 13. vers 5. Cornelius Cornelij à Lapide in eum locuÌ„ not that Christ Iesus is in you vnles perhaps you be reprobates is interpreted as Cornelius declareth out of Theophilact of Christs aboad not in euery particuler person by iustifying grace but in the Church of the Corinthians by power miracles conuersions and other externall gifts wrought by S. Paul and to the tryall of this his presence he exhorteth them by the remembrance and consideration of the workes acheiued among them and not to try their iustifying fayth vnles it be by some probable tokens 9. The obiections of the second kind which ascribe Ioan. 3. v. 36. â— Ioan. 5. v. 13. Rom. 10. v. 9. Rom. 9. v. 33. Ioan. 3. v. 15. 16. Ioan. 6. v. 35. the certainty of saluation to fayth are these He that beleeueth in the Sonne hath life euerlasting They that beleeue in the name of the Sonne of God are to know that they haue eternall life confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and beleeue in thy hart that God raysed him from the dead thou shalt be safe He that beleeueth in Christ shall neuer be confounded nor perish but haue euerlasting life He that beleeueth in me shall neuer thirst He that eateth this bread shall liue for euer To which I answere that these generall promises which assure life and saluation to the beleeuer are vnderstood conditionally if he beleeue as he ought with a true fayth working by charity and he is sayd to haue euerlasting life because by Cyril in Ioan. 3. fayth he hath entred the gate and way which leadeth thereunto or hath receaued the seed thereof the pledge right and title vnto it by the spirit of adoption or diuine filiation imparted vnto him He is promised also to be saued conditionally if he perseuere in that state to the end after which many other vniuersall sentences of Scripture Ioel. 2. v. 3â— Rom. 10. v. 13. Prou. 1. v. 28. Matth. 7. vers 8. Iac. 4. v. 3. are to be expounded It is written Whosoeuer shall inuocate the name of our Lord shall be saued and contrarywise Then shall they inuocate me and I will not heare them Christ sayth Whosoeuer doth aske shall receaue Contrarywise you aske and receaue not the reason he subioyneth because you aske amisse that you may consume it in your concupiscences Therefore these generall sentences whosoeuer inuocateth or beleeueth shall be saued are to be construed also with this promise If he inuocate and beleeue with true fayth sincere affection and purity of life as it behooueth him to do 10. Secondly whereas many causes concurre to the Hebr. 5. v. 9. Rom. 8. v. 24. Eccles 1. v. 27. Tob. 12. v. â— workes of Iustification or saluation the holy Scripture sometyme attributeth it to one sometyme to another To obedience He was made to all that obey him cause of eternall saluation To Hope By hope we are saued To Feare The feare of our Lord expelleth sinne To Almesdeeds Almes-deeds deliuereth from death because ech of them if nothing els be wanting is sufficient to saue vs and so fayth acheiueth our saluation if we be not defectiue in other things required thereunto or rather because it is the first supernaturall habit origen or roote of life which springeth and bringeth forth the liuely motions of all other vertues and for this cause our iustification is more often assigned to fayth then to any other vertue neuertheles if it fayle dye or be lost as in the next Controuersy I shall proue it may be it procureth not the health of our soules to which it was ordeyned 11. The last troupe of their misapplyed sentences which retyre vnder the standard of Gods care and protection Ioan. 10. v. 27. 28. VVhitak l. 8. aduers Duraeum Abbot c 3. Ioan. 17. v. â—0 21. Matt. 24. v. 24. Rom. 8. v. 30. 1. Cor. 1. v. 8. for security of saluation are My sheep heare my voice c. and they shall not periâ—h for euer no man shall plucke them out of my hands Christ prayed for the faythfull that they might be all one with him and no doubt obtayned it affirmeth it impossible for the elect to be induced into errour Whom he hath predestinated he hath called and whome he hath called he hath iustifyed and glorifyed He confirmeth and strengthneth them vnto the end I answere heere is a new throng of witnesses but no euidence brought in our Protestants behalfe For they are all veryfied of the elect in generall that they shall not perish but be preserued and glorifyed in the end into their harts he striketh his feare with them he maketh his euerlasting couenant but heer is no word or syllable that this or that man in particuler is one of them he may be in the number of such as are outwardly Matt. 20. v. 16. Aug. ser 16. de verb. Apostol called For many are called but few elect He may be also inwardly iustifyed for a tyme which yet S. Augustine auoweth to be vnknown to him but that he is one of the happy band of those who are called according to the purpose and eternall election of God is an inscrutable mystery fit and expedient sayth the same S. Augustine to be Aug. tom 7. de corr gra c. 13. hidden in this place where elation and pride is so much to be decaded c. That all euen those who runne may feare whilest it is concealed who shall ariue to the goale 12. In like manner to answere the authorityes of the Fathers foure obseruations are carefully to be noted Nazian in orat conso in grand Ambros serm 5. Bernar. ser â— de annuÌ„ August tract 22. in Ioan. First that they auouch vs certaine of Gods grace as S. Gregory Nazianzen doth Certaine of saluation S. Ambrose Of remission of saluation S. Bernard Of finall perseuerance S. Augustine to wit conditionally if we keep the commandements if we striue manfully against vice euen to the end c. Secondly they speake sometyme of the certainty of hope and confidence not of the certainty of fayth or of the certainty only of humane fayth by probable coniectures not of diuine and supernaturall Thus S. Hierome S. Augustine S. Leo and S. Gregory in the places heere quoted Thirdly they say that we are infallibly
obiections to the contrary answered against Doctour Whitaker Doctour Field and Maister Abbot pag. 20. The Seauenteenth Controuersy DEmonstrateth that our Iustice is inherent in vs and not imputed only against Doctour Whitaker Doctour Fulke and Doctour Abbot pag. 38. The second Chapter of this Controuersy IN which the former doctrine is confirmed by more reasons authorities and other obiections of our aduersaries refuted pag. 54. The Eighteenth Controuersy IN which it is proued that Fayth Hope Feare Loue Sorrow c. precede as dispositions to Iustification in such as are arriued to the vse of Reason against D. Fulke and Maister Abbot pag. 69. The Nineteenth Controuersy DEclareth how faith alone doth not iustify against D. Whitaker D. Field D. Abbot and all Sectaries pag. 83. The Twentith Controuersy IN which it is concluded that our Iustification consisteth in the habit of Charity against D. Abbot D. Whitaker and D. Fulke pag. 10â— The one Twentith Controuersy IN which it is discussed how good Workes do iustify against Doctour Abbot Doctour Whitaker and D. Fulke pag. 116. THE FIFTH BOOKE The two and Twentith Controuersy DIsproueth the Protestants Certainty of Saluation against D. Whitaker and D. Abbot pag. 140. The second Chapter of this Controuersy VVHerein the former Presumption is refuted by Reason and whatsoeuer the Aduersary obiecteth against vs is remoued pag. 151. The three and Twentith Controuersy DEclareth that true Fayth or Iustice once had may be lost against D. Whitaker D. Fulke and D. Abbot pag. 165. The foure and Twentith Controuersy A Voweth Freewill against D. Fulke and D. Whitaker pag. 177. The fiue and Twentith Controuersy SHeweth the cooperation of Free-wil to our conuersion and to workes of Piety against D. Whitaker D. Fulke and M. White pag. 191. The six and Twentith Controuersy VVHerein is taught that the Fayth uâ—l by the help of Gods grace do some workes so perfect entterly god as they truly please the diuine Maiesty against Doctour Whitaker Doctour Fulke and Doctour Abbot pag. 206. The seauen Twentith Controuersy VVHerein our good workes are acquitted from the spottes of sinne against Doctour Whitaker Doctour Fulke and Doctour Abbot pag. 216. The second Chapter of this Controuersy IN which the same is warrâ—ntâ—d by the Fatherâ— the obiections answered and the vnâ—oluntary motions of Concupiscence discharged of sinne pag. 227. The eight and Twentith Controuersy EStablisheth the possibility of keeping Gods Law against Doctour Whitaker Doctour Fulke and Doctour Abbot pag. 336. The second Chapter of this Controuersy IN which the possibility of keeping the Law is maintained by other reasons and objections answered p. 243. The nine and Twentith Controuersy DEfendeth God from being Authour of siane against Doctour Fulke and his Companions pag. 355. The second Chapter of this Controuersy IN which some other Heresies are comprehended our Sectaries cheifâ— obiections fully answered pag. 372. The Thirtith Controuersy IN which the merit of Good workes is supported against Doctour Abbot and Doctour Fulke pag. 386. The second Chapter of this Controuersy IN which the same is strenghned by other reasons authorities and the Obiections satisfied pag. 296. THE FOVRTH BOOKE THE SIXTEENTH CONTROVERSY MAINTAINETH Originall sinne to be abolished by Baptisme and Concupiscence remaining to be no sinne against D. Whitaker D. Field D. Abbot CHAP. I. IT is the proper badge and common custome of such as wander from the truth sometymes to stray in the extremity of one errour sometyme of another one while by excesse to ouerflow the bankes of truth other while to sticke in the sandes by want or defect Thus a Ambr l. 1. de fide cap. 1. 2â— Sabellius erring by defect gaine-sayd the distinction of Persons in the mistery of the holy Trinity and b Nazi orat 5. de Theolog. Arius by excesse multiplyed or rather deuided the vnity of their Essence c Euâ—gr l. 2. cap. 2. Nestâ—rius would haue no Hypostaticall or Substantiall vnâ—â—â— betwixt the diuine and humane nature of Christ and d Theod. l 4. hâ—ret fab c. vlâ— Eutiches would admit no diuision betweene them e Aug. l. de haeres haer 81. 82. Iouinian so highly commended Matrimony as he equaled it with virginity f Iren. l. 1. c. 22 30. Saturninus Tatian and others misprized it so much as they wholy condemned it as an execrable and vnlawfull thing The g Alfon. de Cast. v. Imago Carpocratians Gnostickes and Collyridians honoured Images with sacrifices and diuine worship The h in Alcoran c. 15. 17. Bilson 4. par p 545. sequent Turkes Image-breakers and our Protestants depriue them of all religious worship i Aug. ep 109. 107. Pelagius the enemy of Gods grace attributed too much k Hier. in praef dial aduer Pelag. Manichaus with our late Ghospellers too little to the liberty of Free-will And to come to my purpose the same l Aug. l. 4. cont 2. ep Felag c. 2. 4. libris cont Iul. Castro l. 12. her verbo Peccat Melanth in loc com de baptis infant Pelagius Iulian the Armentians Anabaptists of our dayes extenuate the fault of Originall sinne deny it to be infectious to the soules of Infants or any thing necessary for the cleansing of it M. Luther Caluin Field Abbot Whitaker and all other Protestants exaggerate it so farre and make it so contagious to the whole of spring of Adam as it can neuer be purged or washed from them 2. But the Church of God and spouse of Christ by the guide of his holy spirit shunning the gulfe of both extremes and still sayling in the middst or meane of truth neither confoundeth the Persons of the Blessed Trinity with Sabellius nor deuideth their essence with Aâ—ius She defendeth the Hypostaticall vnion of God and Man in the persons of Christ against Nestorius and alloweth not the mixture of natures with Eutiches She honoureth Marriage as an holy Sacrament against Tattan yet doth notequall it to virginity with Iouinian with Whitaker and the rest of his crew She condemneth the sacrilegious honour which the Carpocratians allow to Images and yet bereaueth them not of all externall worship with Turkes m Luth. in assert art 2. Caluin l. 2. inst c. 10. parag 8. 9. Field in his booke of the Church c. â—6 Abbot in his defence cap. 2. VVhitaker in his answere to the 8. reason of M. Campian and in his 8. booke aduers Duraum VVhitaker Contro 2. q. 5 cap. 7. fol. 384. Images-breakers and Protestants She requireth the supply and assistance of grace to flye all sinne and to do good pleasing to God against Pelagius and excludeth not the cooperation of Free-will with Manichaeus She auoucheth that all mankind contracted the spot of Originall infectioÌ„ Calu. l. 2. instit c. 1. §. 8. 9. Abbot in his defence of the reformed Cathol c. 2. sol 198. Calu. ibi §. 9. Calu. ibid against the Anabaptists and houldeth also that by fayth in
washed but not purifyed exorcised and breathed on but not infranchised from the power of the Diuell Say also that bloud is shed for them in remission of sinnes but they are cleansed with the remission of no sinne these be strang thinges which you teach new thinges which you teach false thinges which you teach we wonder at the strang beware of the new reproue the false If he thus canuased them for denying the VVhitaker l. 8. aduersus Duraeum and in his answere to 8. reason of M. Campain f. 22â— in English In his marginall â—ots added out of his defence purgation of infants soules who acknowledged in them nothing to be purged how would he haue ratled you who acknowledg them defiled yet not purifyed from their ordure You say I confesse their persons are accepted through the mercy of God their faults are not imputed they are outwardly couered with the veile of grace but within within lurketh the venome which infecteth the whole man within in themselues in the secret bowells of their soule they are as deeply tainted poysoned and corrupted as when they were first borne the children of wrath the sonnes of darknes and of vtter perdition 18. O Diuellish facriledge O hatefull barbarisme which Whitaker himselfe would seeme to abhorre for being charged therewith first by M. Campian after by Duraeus he answereth That channell of sinne doth remaine not within them that haue attayned true righteousnes as you slaunder vs to teach but by the power of the Holy Ghost it is dayly purged out You see he would fayne wash his handes and plead not guilty of this hideous blasphemy but examine him vpon the former interrogatoryes and you shall find him as innocent as Pilate was from the bloud of Christ Aske him or any of his followers what is purged by renouation from the soules of the righteous Is the whole staine of Originall infection cleansed forth and do the scarres the infirmityes only abide We desire no more you recant your heresy and ioyne handes with vs. Or is any part of the contagion although it be essentially a priuation and consist not of parts scoured out by infusion of grace Not so for this liquor is so pretious as it cannot endure the spot of mortall crime the bed of our soules is too narrow to lodge any part of the one with the presence of the other And the Holy Ghost too full of purity might and goodnes to create a worke so imperfect a monster so deformed as I haue partly already and shall more fully demonstrate in the next Controuersy which followeth This is more largly proued in the next coÌ„trouersy of inherent iustice Notwithstanding let vs graunt that some part is purged out heerof it must needs ensue that that which by parts is taken away may at length be wholy destroyed for euery finite thing by subtraction of finite parts must of necessity be exhausted in the end Therefore if we be often renewed by the power of the Holy Ghost we may in this life at least in long processe of tyme and dayly increase of vertue be perfectly cleansed from all spotes of sinne Which Whitaker neuerthelesse and all his complices VVhitak vbi supra Feild Abbots loc citais account impossible obstinatly persisting that as long as we dwell in this world sinne must needs dwell in vs and such of it owne nature is mortall and damnable for veniall they deny What glosse then what exposition can they make of the wordes before cyted But that the chaÌ„nell of sinne is sayd to be purged out because it is resisted kept in and restrained from breaking forth into workes of iniquity wrought with full consent for iniquity still worketh as themselues confesse not much vnlike the wickednes of him who by sleep is hindred from voluntary mischiefe or rather like a hidden impostume or poysoned canker which cannot be cured but is stopped by Physicke from further infection And this is the abhomination of which we condemne them an abhomination not fit to be proposed to Christian eares or further refuted if necessity did not presse vs with pens of Christians THE SECOND CHAPTER IN WHICH Concupiscence is more particularly proued to be no sinne Other obiections to the contrary answered against Doctour Whitaker Doctour Feild and Maister Abbots MERVAILE not Courteous Reader that after so large a discourse and full confutatioÌ„ premised I shold notwithstanding Originall sinne in habiting as ProtestaÌ„ts hold in the regenerat is the only ground of many other their impious paradoxâ— more exactly refell this dangerous paradox of our home-bâ—ed fin irremediably lurking in the bowells of nature The reason is because I find it the generall head-spring or poysoned source from whence sundry puddles of other venemous errours are drawn For from hence our Protestants sucke that deadly baâ—â— that all the actions of man euen his deuoutest prayers best workes and desires are stayned with the aspersion of mortall crime because they passe through the stincâ—ing channell of human corruption Hence they deny the merit of our good deedes wrought by grace because there is no goodâ—es in vs pleasing to God from which they should proceed hence their impossibility of fullfilling Gods Commandments for that euery action of the iust is of it owne nature a transgression of his law hence no inherent but a vaine imputatiue righteousnes for ech one in all his facultyes pestered with this capitall vice no inward iustice no inherent grace but a meere outward imputation belongeth vnto him hence their iustification by fayth alone and apprehension of Christs promises applyed vnto them and not through the dignity of their workes enhaunced by Christ hence no difference betweene the workes of the misbeleiuing Infidel Bell in his down-fall p. 49. Abbot in his defence c. cap. â— p. 176. faithfull Christian but that they both damnably offend in whatsoeuer they do only the misdeedes of the faythfull are not imputed vnto them the faults of the Infidels are hence no freedome of will to performe any morall good no liberty in man to cooperate with God when he first moueth awaketh and calleth him out of the state of sin hence I say from this Cancker of concupiscence as from the sincke of mischiefe in our Sectaryes conceit creepeth the infection of all the fornamed heresyes which pernicious conceit that they may more plausibly maintayne they distinguish following the doctrine of our Deuines concupiscence into two sorts actuall habituall habituall is the habit the inward corrupt quality or powers of the inferiour portion to exorbitant motioÌ„s actuall in the immediat act the vntoward motion or affection it selfe both which they account not only to vndergo the name but to partake the essence and nature of sinne in so much as they hold the vnuoluntary motions of concupiscence although they preuent the vse of reasoÌ„ although they be resisted and suppressed yet to be truely sinnefull in themselues and transgressions of the law Thus they 2.
powred into our harts men are iust whosoeuer are iust Moreouer conferring the law written in tables of stone with the law of Grace engrauen in our harts he auoucheth That was written out of man that it might terrify him this in man himselfe that it might intrinsecally iustify him Further This iustice of ours is the grace of Christ regenerating vs De spirit lit c. 17. by the holy Ghost In fine explicating these wordes of the the Apostle The iustice of God by faith of Iesus Christ which the Caluinists glose to be that which is resident in Christ De peccat reâ—is c. 25. S. Augustine expoundeth thus The Iustice of God by fayth of Iesus Christ that is by fayth wherewith we belieue in Christ for as that fayth is called Christs not by which Christ belieues so that Rom. 3. v. 22. Aug. de spirit lit c. 9. cap. 11. iâ— psal 30. Conc. 1. tract 26. in Ioan. Iustice is called Gods not whereby God is iust both of them fayth and iustice be ours but therefore they are tearmed Gods Christs because through their liberalâ—â—y they are giuen to vs. 6. The third and chiefest point whereby the former two are more strongly confirmed that our inherent iustice doth truly iustify vs in the sight of God the Apostle himselfe manifestly teacheth saying As by the disobedience of one man many were made sinners so also by the obedience of one many shall be made iust For the fall of Adam made vs truly sinners by inward infection before the face of God Rom. 5. v. 19. therefore the merits of christ did make vs truly iust by internal iustice in the sight of God This place so vexeth all Sectaryes as they know not how to rid themselues of Calu. l. 3. instit c. 11. sect 2. it Caluin answereth that we are iust because we are declared and pronounced iust by the iudgment of God but to be constituted or made iust as the Apostle writeth importeth more then to be declared such Againe this authenticall true iudgment of God presupposeth iustice in vs before it can be Caâ—â— ibid. rightly pronounced as not to depart from Caluins owne example If an Innocent be brought to be arraigned before the Fulk in c 5. ad Rom. sect 3. Abbot in his defence of the reformed Cathol c. 4. sect 6. 8. Abbot loc citato Fulke vbi supra VVhitak l. 8. aduer Dureum fol. 602. Aug. l. 1. de peccat merit remis cap. 9. 15. Chrys ho. 10. in c. 15. ad Rom. Theoph. in hunc loc seate of a righteous iudge when iudgment is giuen according to his innocency he is sayd to be iustifyed quoth he before the Iudge Well I say so too but as innocency there so iustice heere precedeth iudgment in the party adiudged or declared iust euen in the sight of the Almighty who pronounceth his sentence according to truth Doctour Fulke and Doctour Abbot help out their Maister and graunt that imputatiue Iustice by which he is constituted and made iust indeed goeth before the sentence yet not inherent Iustice But S. Paul teacheth that as we are made sinners by the offence of Adam so iust by the grace of Christ therfore as besids the imputation of Adams default there is a true and proper sin of nature which infecteth vs all and maketh vs truly properly sinners in the eyes of God as both they and all English ProtestaÌ„ts hold with vs against the Pelagians so besides the imputation of Christs iustice which cannot make vs formally iust there ought to be a true and inhabitant iustice which beautifyeth our soules before the throne of heauen or els we could not be truly made iust by Christ as we are made sinners by Adam and therein consisteth the force of the Antithesis S. Paul vseth betweene them which M. Abbot and Fulke like cunning Pylots who warily shunne the most perilous rocks silently passe ouer but M. Whitaker perceiueth it well rather ventureth to dash himselfe against it by denying the comparison then not to take notice therof Though sayth he we be iust in Christ as we are sinners in Adam yet not after the same manner No I appeale againe to the sacred Text to S. Augustine S. Chrysostome Origen Theophilact and all Interpreters Heretikes only excepted whether the opposition doth not wholy accord in this that as true sinne hatefull to God was distilled from Adam so true iustice acceptable in his sight is communicated vnto vs by Christ for S. Paul doth not only teach That as Adam was the authour of sinne so Christ of righteousnes wherein VVhitak loco citato Origen l. 5. in c. 5. ad Rom M. Whitaker only placeth the summe of his discourse he addeth moreouer That as by the disobedience of one man many were made sinners so also by the obedience of one man many shal be made iust where he maketh sayth Origen a comparison of sin and death diffused into all men from Adam of iustification and Theoph. in hunc loc life from Christ. A little before he explaineth how they are both alike in the diffusion or communication from one to many and differ in the thing they communicate because from the one sin from the other iustification is imparted Rom. 3. v. 15. Ibid. v. 17. And Theophilact As by the default of one sinne crept in vnto condeÌ„nation of death so by the iustice of one saluatioÌ„ entred to iustification of life Besides the Apostle in the same place amplifyeth this point and affirmeth that the grace instilled by Christ hath more power to iustify then sinne to destroy saying If by the offence of one many dyed much more the grace of God and the guift in the grace of one man Iesus Christ hath abounded vpon many Likewise If in the offence of one death raigned by one much more they that receaue the aboundance of grace and of donation and of iustice shall raigne in life by one Iesus Christ. Out of which wordes we collect fiue infallible verityes against the erroneous doctrine of Protestants First that grace communicated by Christ is not weake and imperfect but copious and abundant Secondly it is not only imputed vnto vs but receaued of vs. Thirdly it is not the meerâ— grace of sanctification but of Iustice Fourthly it raigneth and preuaileth in vs to produce workes of iustification to life as sinne raigned to bring forth workes of iniquity to death Fifthly it is much more powerfull to iustify and make vs acceptable to God then sinne was to condemne and make vs odious vnto him Therfore he concludeth Where sinne abounded grace did more abound that as sinne raygned to death so also grace may raigne by iustice to life euerlasting through Iesus Christ our Lord. Ibid. v. 10. 22. 7. Let vs match these Texts of holy Writ with others and make all modest men ashamed to spurne against a truth warranted by the collation of sundry
interpretation then that which I haue mentioned vnles a man would bend his wits and force his quill of purpose to misconstrue his meaning THE NINTEENTH CONTROVERSY DECLARETH How Fayth alone doth not iustify against D. Whitaker D. Feild D. Abbot and all Sectaryes CHAP. I. THAT we may not stumble at the beginning Châ—nitiuâ— in 1. part examinaâ— Con iâ— Trid. Calu. l. 30 instit c. ◠§. 9. Fulk in c. 13. 1. ad Cor. sect 5 Perkins in his reform Cath. f. 7â— nor post away in vaine before I go further I will truly lay down the state of this question as it is controuerted defended on both sides Protestants distinguish three sorts of fayth 1. The historicall fayth as they tearm it by which they belieue the history of the Bible 2. The guift of fayth to worke miracles of which S. Paul If I should haue all fayth so as I could remoue mountaines c. 3. The sayth and affiance in the diuine promises of God So that the truth and veracity of God is the proper obiect of the first his power of the second his mercy and goodnes of the third Which later fayth they subdeuide againe into Abbot inhis defence cap 4. fol. 453. VVhitak l. 1. aduers Duraeum two members or branches into a generall beliefe that God will faythfully accomplish all his promises will graunt remission of sinnes to all true beleeuers and into a particuler and speciall fayth whereby euery Protestant perswadeth and assureth himselfe that his sinnes by the mercy of God in Christ be forgiuen him And in this speciall affiance and firme perswasion all Sectaryes place their iustifying fayth from whence Charity and good workes according to them only flow as fruits and necessary sequels accompanying their beliefe Thus they 2. We on the other side defend that Charity and good workes are not only fruits or signes but the life or Ephes 4. v. 5. Cyril ca Greg. Nazian or at â—ltim in sanctum lauacrum Aug. in Enchirid. c. 2. 5. 7. 8. l. 2. conduas epist Pelag. c. 5. Leo serm â—1 de Epiphan Fulg. l. de side ad Petrum in prolog Hebr. â—1 v. â— Gaâ— Vâ—s â—â— 1. â— disp â—10 â— 7. substance of iustification Likewise we deny that counterfeit diuision of seuerall fayths which they deuise and imbrace with holy Scriptures one dogmaticall and Catholik Fayth by which we belieue the Ghospell of Christ the articles of our Creed and whatsoeuer in this kind the vniuersall Church proposeth vnto vs. For as there is but one formall motiue or subiect of beliefe to wit the prime verity or diuine auctority obscurely reueiling the histories of the Bible the power of working miracles the promises of God and whatsoeuer els So there is but one true and Theologicall vertue of fayth which with most constant assent beleeueth them all one Lord one Fayth one Baptisme And to this one sole fayth not to the peculiar perswasion of Sectaryes is ascrybed by S. Cyrill Patriarch of Hierusalem by S. Gregory Nazianzen S. Augustine S. Leo and S. Fulgentius the whole force of iustification which in any part of sacred Writ is attributed vnto Fayth Wherefore although we hold that this Theological Fayth be the beginning foundation of our spiritual building for be that commeth to God must beleeue that he is Though it be also the roote from whence the life of grace doth somtyme spring by stirring vp and exciting the affections of the will to loue good and detest sinne yet it doth not fully engender that sparke of life it doth neither wholy dispose to the fauour of God as I haue already proued nor intierely sanctify and make vs iust as I shall now demonstrate Math. 25. v. 11. Matth. 7. v. 22. Ioan. 12. v. 42. 43. Matth. 22. v. 11. 3. The foolish Virgins who cryed Lord Lord open vnto vs had fayth and beleeued in him whome they inuocated The false Prophets beleeued who wrought miracles in the name of Christ. The Princes of the Iewes who loued the glory of men more then the glory of God yet as the Scripture sayth they belieued in Christ The guest who was found at the marriage feast without his wedding garment he belieued also for by fayth he yielded to the calling came into the house VVhitak l. 8. aduers Duraeum in his aÌ„swere to 1. reason of M. Campian Abbot in his defence c. 4. Orig. tract 32. in Matth. Hilar. can 27. Hier. ep ad Demetr Theoph. Euthy in cum locuÌ„ August tract 54. in Ioan. August tract 53. in Ioan. Beliar. de iustif l. 1. c. 15. of God and yet none of these were iustifyed therefore Fayth alone is not sufficient to iuftification M. Whitaker M. Abbot and the rest will answere that These had not a true but a faygned dead and idle fayth dead and idle we coÌ„fesse it was yet true and vnfaygned in respect of the essence and nature of Fayth for the Euangelist speaking of the Iewish Princes vseth the same word crediderunt they beleeued in Christ as he doth when he discourseth of them who beleeued indeed which would breed intollerable ambiguity doubtfullnes in expounding of holy Scripture if he were not to be vnderstood of true beliefe Secondly the ancieÌ„t Fathers interprete al these places of true and vnfaygned Fayth Origen S. Hilary S. Hierome the first affirming the foolish Virgins to be excluded from their bride-grome not for want of true fayth but for want of good workes S. Hierome Theophilact and Euthymius the second of the false Prophets attributing to their fayth the inuocation they made Lord Lord haue not we prophefied in thy name and intimating thereby that fayth alone is not inough to saluation S. Augustine expoundeth the third place likwise of true fayth comparing the fayth of those Princes with the true Fayth of such as openly confessed the name of Christ Affirming that if they also had proceeded and gone forward in that entrance of beliefe they might by profiting haue ouercome the loue of humane glory But that Fayth as Cardinal Bellarmine wel argueth which by profiting could vanquish the affection of vaine glory was true fayth otherwise that Fayth had Tertul. l. de resurrec carnis Orig. Chryso in hunc loc Ambr. ser 14. de naâ—ali Hieron Gregor Theoph. Euthy in â—um locuÌ„ Maldon in cap. 22. Matth. Iacob ep cap. 2. v. 14. 17. 14. Augu. de â—â—de opâ—rib c. 14. VVhitak l. 1. aduers Duraeum in his aÌ„swere to 1. reason of M. Ca â—pian VVitak vbi supra Fulk in c. 2. Ioan. sect 9. Abbot c. 4. f. 476. 477. not profited but another arriuing to perfection that had fayled Lastly that he who wanted his wedding garment beleeued also aright is insinuated by Tertullian Origen S. Hierome S. Chrysostome S. Ambrose S. Gregory Theophilact and Euthymius who conformably teach that he was cast into outward darknes not for any defect of fayth but for want of
man iustifyed by Fayth The second act of comfortable assurance doth not as he sayth actiuely iustify but finding the thing done certifyeth and assureth vs of it the first doth but impetrate obtaine and procure it by way of request no act can he assigne betweene the first and the second therefore no act of fayth can he assigne whereby he may be formally iustifyed On the other fide I thinke the Protestants petition which humbly intreateth for acception and fauour must needes proceed from fayth For how shall they humbly ad Rom. â—â— v. 14. intreate How shall they inâ—ocate in whome they haue not beleeued Beleeue then they do before they intreate and yet they are not iust therefore Fayth alone doth not iustify but only by way of impetration by stirring vp our affections and exciting our will to craue and desire it which with S. Augustine and the whole schoole of Catholike August ep 105. de praedest Sanctor c. 7. Deuines we willingly imbrace And to which M. Feild must at length retire for rest and safeguard or els well canuased he is driuen to the wall which way soeuer he turneth 10. The fifth argument which I meane to prosecute is of the regeneration of young baptized Infants who Feild in his 3. booke â— 44. fol. 179. cannot be iustifyed by an act of special fayth because they can haue none as M. Field accordeth with vs but by the habituall qualityes or inherent habits of Fayth Hope and Charity therefore all others are iustifyed by the like because the same spirit of adoption the same title of diuin Augu. l. 1. cont 2. ep Pelag. â— 7. c 21. l. 1. deÌ„ pecc meri c. â—â— ep 157. Marc vlt. v. 16. Act. Apost c. 8. v. 37. filiation the same new birth and regeneration in Christ the same seed of life the same formall cause of iustification is in euery one of these faythful in euery child of God in euery state whatsoeuer as S. Augustine teacheth 11. Likewise when the Adulâ—i or such as arriue to the vse of reason are baptized fayth is required as a necessary disposition for them worthily to receaue the grace of Baptisme therefore our Sauiour sayd He that beleeueth and is baptized shal be saued And S. Philip to the Eunuch desirous to be christned answered If thou beleeue withall thy hart thou mayst But the Fayth which Christ the fayth which Philip exacted before Baptisme was no doubt true perfect fayth that fayth which togeather with the SacrameÌ„t was sufficient to saluation and yet that fayth alone did not iustify or if it did it remitted them their sinnes it regenerated and implanted them in Christ acheiued before all those heanenly effects for which that holy Sacrament was ordayned in vaine then was it instituted in vaine was it after applyed No say you it is after applyed as a signe or seale of regeneration as the outward pledge of adoption Rogers art 27. VVhitak l. 1. aduers Duraeum fol. 675. Calu. l. 4. instit c. 24. §. 3. Calu. ibid. as an addition to confirme and ratify the promise of God to establish vs in the fayth thereof But this pledge seale and addition is not requisite in the behalfe of God for his truth sayth Caluin is by it selfe sound and certaine though and cannot from any other where receaue better confirmation them from it selfe Neither is it needfull for the ignorance as he fancieth and dulnesse of Protestants for their speciall affiance being as they bragge certaine knowne and infallible iustifying fayth giueth them more assurance of the remission of their sinnes and promises of God applyed vnto them then any outward signes or additions whatsoeuer Againe the performance 2. Pet. 1. v. 10. of good workes to which S. Peter exhorteth the word of God heard or read is more apt and efficacious to excite and stir vp our Fayth to confirme vs therin then the dumbe elements of water bread and wine which you only vse Besides the Scriptures and Fathers attribute vnto Baptisme not only the force of a signe or seale to Tit. 3. v. 5. Ioan. 3. Ephes 5. 1. Cor. 6. Ambr. l. â— de Sacraâ— c. 4. Leo. serm â— de natiuiitat Clement Alex. l. 1. paeda c. 6. Basil l. c. de spirit sant cap. 15. Hier. l. 3. cont Pelag Hilar. in psal 65. Tertul. l. de Bapt. c. 1. Dion c. 3. Eccles Hiera p. 1. Nazian in sanctum lauacrum Aug. in psal 73. l. 19. in Faust c. 13. Iren. l. 4. cont baer c. â—0 Chrys bo 17. in Gen. Orig. bom 3. in Gen. Epiphan baer 30. Basil l. de spir sanct c. 14. Euseb Caesar l. 1 demon Euan. c. 10 â— bistor c. 1. Emisbom in Sabb. post 1. Domin Quadr. Ambr. â—p 72. ad Iren. in cap. 4. ad Rom. August ep 19. ad Hier. tract 41. in Ioan. q. 25. in â— Numer ratify grace but the true efficacy of an instrumentall cause to iustify and cleanse our soules from the filth of sinne therefore sound and entiere fayth which goeth before as a preparation necessary doth not worke the effect but the Sacrament which is after ministred Whereupon it is tearmed not the pledge or token but the lauer of regeneration by which we are borne a new are cleansed are washed from sinne So S. Ambrose also sayth of the baptized By this fountaine he hath passed from thinges earthly to heauenly from sinne to life from fault to grace from defilement to sanctification S. Leo The power of the most high which made that Mary brought forth a Sauiour doth make that the water regenerateth the beleeuer S. Clemens Alexandrinus tearmeth Baptisme the grace perfection illumination and lauer by which we are washed and wipe away sinnes S. Basil S. Hierom S. Hilary and Tertullian haue the like 12. S. Denis S. Gregory Nazianzen and other also of the Greeke Fathers call Baptisme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 illuminationem illumination because in Baptisme man is illuminated and enlightned with the fayth of Christ he receaueth the fellowship or society of the first and increated light and the beginning or head spring of all diuine and celestiall illustrations as the same S. Denis affirmeth S. Augustine assigneth this difference betweene the Sacraments of the old and the new Law that they promised a Sauiour these affoard saluation that these are greater in vertue for profit and vtility better They according to S. Irenâ—us S. Chrysostome Origen Epiphanius Eusebius Caesariensis and Emissenus S. Ambrose and S. Augustine were signes and shaddowes only euen Circumcision in the opinion of some their chiefest ceremony which betokned the verity of our Sacraments yielding and exhibiting Grace And S. Basil sayth that the Baptisme of Basil hom 1. de Bapt. Christ giueth the Holy Ghost which the Baptisme of Iohn did not giue 13. Which it hath pleased also our mighty Soueraigne K. Iames in his answere to Card. Peron fol. 32. in Latin fol. 20. in
psal 130. and others obiected by you when they affirme This is to beleeue in Christ euen to loue Christ c. And which is also the only roote and cause of your errour who partially attribute that to fayth which is the chiefest priuiledge of Charity and function of other vertues not essentially coÌ„pounded but mutually conioyned in friendship togeather The principall obiection M. Abbot and other Protestants vrge against vs is that if fayth be not compounded of an act of Loue c. it is nothing els but the bare assent of the vnderstanding that Iesus is Christ the Sonne of God But this is the fayth of the Diuells for they sayth M. Abbots professe so much O Iesus of Nazareth Abbot c. 4. sect 18. fol. 456. I know who thou art euen the holy one of God I answere there are sundry differences betweene the fayth of Christians and the fayth of the Diuells first because that if it be liuely and formed it is alwayes vnited with Charity Marc. 1. v. 24. Hope and other vertues which in the Diuels are neuer If dead and formeles as in wicked beleeuers yet in them it is a supernaturall and theologicall act in Diuells naturall and not so much as a morall vertue in them voluntary and free in Diuells forced and coacted in them it proceedeth from the pious affection of the will mouing the vnderstanding to that theologicall assent in Diuells it is wrested from them by the powerfullnes of miracles or euidence of things appearing vnto them Whereupon S. Augustine fayth That the Diuells knew Christ not by the light Aug. l. 9. de ciuit Dei c. 21. which illuminateth the pious who belieue by fayth but by other effects and most hidden signes of the diuine power And as they differ in these so they agree in some other points they Aug. tom â—0 l. 50. Hom. hom 17. tract 10. in epist Iaâ—n agree in that both giue assent to the misteryes of our faith both are fruitles and wholy insufficient to iustify vs before God In which respect S. Iames in his Catholike Epistle and S. Augustine often compareth the fayth of Diuels with the vnprofitable fayth of vngodly Christians not thaâ— this is not true and supernaturall fayth but that without Charity and good works it no more auayleth to purchase saluation then the naturall knowledge or beliefe of Diuells 18. When M. Whitaker insisteth that Charity and VVhitak l. 8. aduers Duraeum in his aÌ„swere to 8. reason of M. Campian good Workes are inseparable companions of true fayth and that it neither is nor can be without them besides the arguments already made by which this fancy is reproued I aske how Charity is inseparable from true fayth is it a fruit which springeth from it as the apple from the tree then as the tree remayneth a true and perfect tree although it be sometym barren and voyd of fruit so fayth â—hay haue all things requisite to the essence thereof howsoeuer it be somety me depriued of Charity Is it an aceidental quality of inseparable passion which floweth from fayth as the power of laughing from the nature of man It should follow that Charity could not be in heauen separated from fayth no more then risibility can be deuided from man Is it an essentiall forme which is required to the integrity of fayth Then fayth alone doth not iustify but Charity also which is essentially conioyned and worketh with it Finally who taught you thus to enterfeite and wound your selues that fayth is the fountaine of spirituall life the roote which sprouteth from branches of Charity Hope and all good Workes and yet that all the works which proceed from the faythful be all of their owne nature damnable and deadly sinnes all stayned with the infection of mortall sinnes I would you were once constant in your absurdityes and mindfull of your leasings that we might know where to haue you and what to refute 19. Thus hauing stopped the gappe by which the wily aduersary thought to escape hauing compassed him with reasons hemmed him in with Scriptures I am Cyril l. 10. in Ioan. cap. 10. now to put him to open confusion with the testimony of Fathers S. Cyrill affirmeth The faythful by sincere fayth to be sâ—â—ps or branches inocculated in the Vine And yet he sayth a little after It is not inough to perfection that is to sanctification Chrys l. â— cont vitu monast vitae Basil in Psalter psal 110. Greg. l. 6. ep 15. August tract 10. in ep Ioan. Aug. l. defide operi c. 14. 15. l. 21. de ciuit Dei c. 16. â—n â—â—chir c. â—8 de octo dupl quaest q. 1. Augu. in praef Psal 31. Cent. 2. c. 4. Colum. â—0 61. Cent. 3. c. 4. Colum. 79. 80. Cent. 4. c. 4. Colum. 292. 293. Cent. 5. c. 4. Colum. 504. 505. 506. 507. 508. 509. 510. which by Christ is wrought in spirit to be admitted into the number of branches S. Chrysostome What profit will fayth affoard vs if our life be not sincere and pure S. Basil Fayth alone is not sufficient vntes there be added conuersation of life agreeable thereunto S. Gregory It is manifest that since the Incarnation of our Lord none euen of them can be saued who haue fayth in him and haue not the life of fayth S. Augustine Many quoth he say I belieue but fayth without workes saueth not And he vvriteth a vvhole booke of purpose besides many other inuectiues against this dangerous persvvasioÌ„ of only fayth to be sufficient to saluation he likevvise shevveth many sayings of the Apostle to be false that saying of Christ If thou vvilt enter into life keep the Commandments to haue beene in vaine vnles other thinges vvere necessary besides fayth yea besides true fayth for discoursing of the fayth of Abraham vvhich you cannot deny to be true he pronounceth that euen that Fayth of his had beene dead vvithout vvorkes and like a stocke vvithout fruit dry vvithered and barren But vvhat should I recyte particuler authorityes of this or that Father We haue on our side by voluntary confession and iudgment of our Aduersaryes the Magdeburgian Protestants the generall consent of all most ancient and illustrious vvriters vvhich liued vvithin the first fiue hundred yeares after Christ for in the second hundred they accuse by name S. Clemens Alexandrinus and Theophilus for approuing in this point the truth of our doctrine cyting their vvords and quoting the places vvherin they approue it They attach of the same fault Origen Methodius Tertullian S. Cyprian in the third Lactantius Nilus Chromatius Ephrem S. Hierome S. Gregory Nissen S. Hilary S. Gregory Nazianzen and S. Ambrose in the fourth In the fifth S. Chrysostome S. Augustine S. Cyrill S. Leo Prosper Sedulius Theodulus Saluianus Salonius Eucherius 20. Wherefore to conclude for the obiections which belong to this and the next I shall ioyntly make answere in the Controuersy of good workes if all these renowned
Authours both of the Greek Latin Church if all these famous Writers of the first fiue hundred yeares after Christ agree with vs in the partiall eye of sworne Catholiks freed froÌ„ leuity or disaffectioÌ„ to their Prince for cleauing to the ancient Fathers enemyes that fayth alone cannot purchase saluation or iustify vs before God I hope my soueraigne Liege King Iames who vouchâ—afeth to submit his royall wisedome princely iudgment to the censure and tryal of that perfect age will not deeme it any lâ—uity in Catholikes or disloyalty to his person to whome we owe and are ready to performe all the dutifull seruice which euer any subiects haue yielded to their Prince but feare of God zeale of his honour loue of Religion care of our soules and meere respect of conscience which maketh vs afrayd to wander out of this straite and trodden path of so many our holy and learned predecessours and afraid to follow crooked turnings and by-wayes of Heretikes which winde into the labyrinth of eternall perdition THE TWENTITH CONTROVERSY IN WHICH It is concluded that our Iustification consisteth in the habit of Charity against D. Abbot D. Whitaker and D. Fulke CHAP. I. ALTHOVGH we make not any separation or diuorce between those diuine and louing sisters Fayth Hope and Charity but that they all three concurre to the spirituall marriage of our Vide Scot. in 4. dist 27. q. 1. Vega l. 7. super Conci Concil Trid. c. â—5 Gab. Vas in 1. 2. disâ— 198. c. 3. 1. Ioan. 3. v. 1. Luc. 7. v. 47. Ioan. 13. v. 35. 1. Ioan. 4. v. 7. Rom 13. v. 10. Coloss 3. v. 14. VVhitak l. 8. aduns Durâ—um in his aÌ„swere to 8. reason Abbot in his defence cap. 4. Rom. 1. v. 17. 1. Ioan. 3. v. 14. Act. 13. v. 39. Ioan. 14. v. 21. Col. 1. v. 23. Ephes 3. v. 17. Hebr. 11. v. 6. 1. 〈◊〉 1â— v. â— 1. Ioan. 5. v. 1. â—1 Ioan. 4. v. 7. 1. Cor. 13. v. 13. soules with God yet we assigne to euery one her part or function which she performeth heerein To Fayth the entrance to Hope the progresse to Charity which I suppose as most probable to be all one with grace the complement and consummation of this happy Wedlocke As the holy Scriptures declare when they tearme it the band of our vnion and coniunction with God He that abydeth in Charity abydeth in God and God in him When they attribute vnto it the right of our adoption and title of diuine filiation See what manner of Charity the Father hath giuen vs that we should be named and be â—he sonnes of God The remission of our sinnes Many sinnes are forgiuen her because she hath loued much When they make it the badge and cognizance of Christs faythful seruants In this all men shall know that you are my disciples if you haue loue to one another When thereby we are sayd to be borne a new and regenerated in Christ Euery one that loueth is borne of God and knoweth God When they call it the accomplishment of the Law and summe of all perfection Loue therfore is the fullnes of the Law And Aboue all these things haue Charity which is the band of perfection All these places inuincibly proue that Charity is the vertue which espouseth and marryeth vs vnto God which adopteth reneweth and truly iustifyeth vs in his sight 1. The same I also euince by the like testimonyes by which our Aduersaryes would seeme to challeng it to Fayth alon Of fayth say they it is written The iust liueth by Fayth Of Charity we read the like We know that me are translated from death to life because we loue the brethren 〈◊〉 that loueth not abideth in death Of Fayth Euery one that belieueth is iustifyed Of Charity He that loueth me shall be loued of my Father and I will loue him Of Fayth If yee continue in the fayth grounded stable Of Charity Rooted and founded in Charity Of Fayth Without Fayth it is impossible to please God Of Charity If I haue not Charity I am nothing Of Fayth Whosoeuer belieueth that Iesus is Christ is borne of God Of Charity Euery one that loueth is borne of God Wherefore if Fayth by reason of these testimonyes is not the fruit or sequell in our Secâ—â—â—yes iudgment but the true cause of iustification why should not Charity haue the same priâ—iledge which is ouery way warranted with the same authority and with more ample also for S. Paâ—â— expreâ—â—y preferreth Charity before Fayth saying Now 〈…〉 Fayth Hope and Charity these three but the greatâ—â—â— of these is Charity Before he insinuâ—â—â—th that Charity is such as it shall neuer fayle Fayth imperfect and shal be made voyd when we see God face to face Therefore Fayth cannot be heere that garment of Iustice which shall there Ibid. v. 2. remayne and adorne vs for euer but Charity which shall still abyde and continue with vs. Likewise the Apostle VVhitak l. 8. aduers Duraeum Fulk in c. 13. 1. Cor Abbot c. 4. Origen tract in Matth. 4. Hier. Bedâ— Strabo in cum lo Aug. l. 15 de Trin. c. 18. Abbot in his defence c. 4. sect 22 p. 479. auoucheth in the beginning of that Chapter If I should haue all fayth so that I could remoue mountains and haue not Charity I am nothing He doth not say as Whitaker Fulke Abbot misconstrue him If I had the gift of Fayth to do miracles but if I should haue all fayth all historicall and dogmaticall all fayth of miracles all whatsoeuer yea quoth Origen S. Hierome Venerable Bede and Strabo If I had that excellent that solide entiere and most perfect fayth of all others which is able to remoue mountaines without Charity it doth no good Whereupon S. Augustine sayth Nothing but Charity maketh fayth it selfe auailable for Fath may be without Charity but it profiteth not without Charity Abbot answereth He speaketh of fayth after the vulgar vnderstanding aâ— S. Iames did not of true fayth No then neither he nor S. Iames nor the Apostle spake anything at all to the purpose for of what Fayth could there be any questioÌ„ but of that Fayth which is a Theologicall vertue hath her proper and intrinsecall forme distinct from Charity of that which vvith Charity auayleth to iustification for of a false and counterfeit fayth no doubt could be made neither was there euer any heretike so mad or bereft of his wits as to imagine a false fayth to be sufficient to iustification what needed then S. Augustine what needed S. Iames what needed the Apostle with such vehemency so often so seriously to inculcate that a fayned beliefe VVhitak l. 1. aduers-Durâ—um a diabolicall fayth as Whitaker calleth it which no man dreamed to be sufficient auayleth nothing in the sight of God For ioyne to such a fayth ioyne to your meere historicall fayth to your gift of fayth for the working of miracles as much Charity as may
sometym know he repenteth know he beleeueth with some fayth with some repentanc◠or other because he sensibly feeleth the inward throbs of his hart behouldeth the teares trickling from his eyes apparent tokens of sorrow and repentance because fayth is a light which manifest it selfe an act of the vnderstanding which cannot be hidden to which effect M. Whitaker and M. Abbot vrge out of S. Abbot c. ◠VVhitak l. 8. aduers Duraeum Augu. ep 112. Augustine That the faythfull man doth see his fayth it selfe by which he answereth that he beleeueth Although I say all this be true yet the knot of our difficulty remayneth still vntyed For neither doth S. Augustine teach nor any reason perswade that he infallibly knoweth his repentance to be such as it ought to be done for so pure and diuine a motiue as is requisite for the iustifying of his soule to be true Christian not false Herodian not Antiochus his sorrow that his tears are distilled from the Rose of Charity not squeazed out of the nettles of priuate selfe loue Likewise he cānot certainly know whether his fayth be natural or supernatural whether it rely vpon the authority of God duly proposed and immediatly credited for it selfe or for some other humane reasons as the formall motiues of his belief because there is such cōnexion affinity betweene the naturall and supernaturall acts they are paralelled and consorted togeather in so many branches of neere alliance as it is impossible by infallible certainty to discerne without speciall reuelation humane fayth from diuine vertues infused by God from vertues gayned by mans labour and industry Then it is aboue the reach and skill of man to diue into the secrets of God to trace his steps or discouer the operation and working of his grace In so much as Iob sayd If God come to me I shall not see him and if he depart away from me I shall not vnderstand Iob. 9. v. 11. Greg. l. 9. in c. 9. Iob. c. 10. 11. Aug. in psal 41. serm 13. de verb. Dom. Iraen c. 17. v. 9. it Which S. Gregory interpreteth of Gods comming and departure from our soules of his abyding or forsaking our harts that it is hidden and concealed from vs in this vale of teares for our greater humility Againe we are obnoxious to sundry illusions our hart is inueagled with diuers phantasyes hath such a multitude of folds and windings in it as it is too hard to define what it throughly abhorreth or sincerely imbraceth with all behoofull circumstances as it ought especially in the pious course of vertue which perplexityes abstrusenes of our hart Ieremy deciphreth saying The hart of man is peruerse vnsearchable who shall know it And Caluin delineateth in this manner The hart of man hath so many secret corners of vanity is Calu. l. 3. instit c. 2. §. 10. so full of hypocrysy that it often deceaueth himselfe In the next Paragraffe he addeth Experience sheweth that the reprobate are sometyme moued with the same feeling that the elect are so that in their owne iudgment they nothing differ from the elect wherefore it Hebr. 6. v. 4. Luc. 8. v. is no absurdity that the Apostle ascribeth to them that tast of the heauenly gifts that Christ ascribeth to them fayth for a tyme. If this be so if our hart often beguile vs if the reprobate be sometyme moued with the same feeling as the elect are if they haue a fayth for a tyme how is your conscience infallibly sealed that yours is perpetuall May not your hart your iudgment your firme perswasion deceaue you as it deceaueth others The Anabaptist assureth himselfe that his sinnes by speciall fayth be remitted and that he and all of his sect shall be certainly saued The Lutheran the Caluinist assureth of the like and ech of them is certaine that the contrary to him notwithstanding his assurance shall be infallibly damned Whom shall we beleeue When euery one is equally by faith assured of saluation and yet ech one condemneth the other two and the whole Catholike world condemneth them all to the pit of hell if they obstinatly dye in their perfidious beliefe 2. Secondly if speciall fayth remitteth sinnes and Sectaryes by the same fayth are assured of the remission they can neuer say our Lords prayer without mockery or infidelity For as they cannot intreate the Sonne of God may be incarnate as they cannot intreate his death and passion for the redemption of man vnles they deny or misdoubt the accomplishment of them So if they certainly beleeue the remission of their sinnes effected by fayth they cannot without dissimulation irrision or Field l. 3. cap. 44. fol. 178. plaine infidelity cry vnto God forgiue vs our trespasses which they assuredly beleeue to haue been forgiuen before Feild answereth The iustifyed man knoweth that the dominion of his sins is taken away and that the guilt of condemnation whereunto they subiect such as are vnder the dominion of them is already remoued and therefore he doth not desire nor aske forgiuenes of sinnes in this sort but the inherence of sins he acknowledgeth in himselfe notwithstanding his iustification which still subiecteth him to Gods displeasure and punishments accompanying the same These thinges he desireth to be remoued and in this sense asketh forgiuenes of his sinnes So he The loosenes of whose answere is already discouered in the first Controuersy of Originall sin in which place I haue largely demonstrated that when sinne is truly inherent the guilt of condemnation still remayneth or where the guilt and dominion is abolished there sinne is extinguished there sinne inhereth not not wholy because the dominion is remoued not in part because the blemish of sinne is indiuisible and hath no parts or suppose we speake of diuers sinnes which haue diuers spots diuers deformityes one deformity cannot be cleansed or taken away without the other which M. Abbot had once an eye to discerne disputing Abbot c. 6. sect 7. fol. 766. thus against Doctour Bishop Let him say the sinne in part is pardoned but not wholy and then let him shew vs what warrant he hath that God in that sort forgiueth sinnes by patches and peeces which because he cannot do let him giue vs leaue to take him for that that he sheweth himselfe to be Thus with one eye what with the other the diligent Reader may perceaue in my foresayd Treatise of originall sinne Then this reply cohereth not with it selfe nor with other of his and his fellows barbarismes For if the iustifyed man knoweth the dominion of sinne the guilt of condemnation to be remoued how doth the inherence therof notwithstanding his iustification subiect him to Gods displeasure whereas this common songe is chaunted among you and by you also M. Feild That where the Feild in his 3. booke of the Church cap. 16. Abbot c. 6. sess 7. fault of sinne is once remitted there no amercement or debt of punishment
Ioan. 2. v. 5. Ibid. c. 4. v. 11. Charity whereof you haue the rash verdict of Protestants that it can neuer be perfect wil you now heare the iudgmeÌ„t of S. Iohn He that keepeth his word to wit the commaÌ„dment of our Lord in him in very deed the Charity of God is perfected If we loue one another God abydeth in vs and his Charity in vs is perfected Will you heare the sentence of Christ Greater loue then this no man hath that a man yield his life for his friendes But this hath beene acomplished by innumerable Martyrs Ioan. 15. v. 13. of our Roman Church they then haue arriued to the highest pich or degree of Charity After this sort S. Augustine teacheth that not only the Charity of Christ but the Charity also August tract 5. 6. in 1. IoaÌ„ c. 3. Item l. de perf iust tom 3. ex sent sent 311. despir lit c. 5. vlt. l. de doct Chri. cap. 39. l. 1. de pec mer 23. remis c. Hiero. l. 2. comm in lament Ierem haec de Hier. Cent. 4. c. 10. col 1250. of S. Steuen the charity of S. Paul was perfect in this life accordingly in his booke of the perfection of Iustice and els where very often But most perspicuously S. Hierom He is truly and not in part perfect who disgesteth in the wildernes the discomfort of solitude and in the Couent or Monastery the infirmities of the brethren with equall magnanimity Which sentence because the Madgeburgian Protestants could not with any dawbing besmeare but that the beauty thereof would discouer it selfe they sprinkle it with the aspersion of an vnâ—itting or bastardly kind of speach and so cassiere it amoÌ„g other of his errours But these reproachfull censures of such an eminently learned Saint rebound back with disgrace of the censurers honour of the censured and our acknowledged triumph with which I go on to establish it further with a Theologicall proofe 4. It is a strong grounded opinion among Deuines that the actuall and supernaturall loue of some feruent zealous persons heere vpon earth exceedeth in essentiall perfection the burning charity of sundry inferiour Saints in heauen whose Charity notwithstanding Protestants graunt to be perfect for as the habituall grace and Charity of such as haue exercised many acts of loue often receaued the sacraments and augmented their inward habit surpasseth the grace and renouation of Baptisme which infants dying before the vse of reason haue only obtayned So their actuall charity which is often answerable to the habituall and by the help and supply of Gods speciall concurrence may sometyme be greater surmounteth also the actuall loue of young children who now reioyce and triumph in the Court of blisse such was the loue of our B. Lady of S. Iohn Baptist S. Peter and S. Paul 5. To this Argument of the Schoolemen I find no reply in any of our Reformers writings but to the aforesayd passages of Scripture they commonly answere that VVhitak in his answere to the 8. reason of M. Campiâ— fol. 251. VVher in are the marginall nots out of his reply so Duraeus the workes of the faythfull are perfect and pleasing to God by acceptation They please him quoth Whitaker as if they were entiere and pure because he looketh vpon our persons he doth not make search into the worth and merit of the worke Verily in this later clause you say most truly he maketh not search into the worth merit of your workes whch you denounce to haue no merit in them which you proclayme to be mingled with the corruption of sinne yet your persons perdy because you are Protestants are so amiable in the eyes of that supreme Monarch that the things you do delight and content him as entiere and pure howsoeuer they be in themselues impure And whereas the Publicans humility Mary Magdelens teares the Chananeans fayth S. Peters sorrow endeared them to Act. c. 10 v. 35. God wheras all other good persons are accepted to him by reason of their workes He that feareth God and worketh iustice is acceptable vnto him only Protestants are such darlings as their works are not regarded by reason of their persons He that sayd to Abraham Because thou hast done Gen. 21. v. 16. 17. Sophon 1. v. 12. this things and hast not spared c. I will blesse thee blesseth them without reference to their doings He that searcheth Hierusalem with lamps that is diligently sifteth his holyest Saints maketh no such narrow scrutiny into his Protetestant fauourites he with whome there is no acception of persons accepteth the persons of Protestants without any exception Go you and vaunt of this extraordinary fauour and passe yee without search or examination to your peculiar heauen God grant that we and our workes being weighed in the ballance of Gods iust triall be not found too light as Baltassars were or fayling in any duty Abbot c. 4. sect 45. August de spir lit c. 35. Aug. de temp serm 49. Hier. l. 1. aduers Peâ—ag l. 3. de Fulg. l. 1. ad Mon. Orig. ad Rom. c. 6. we are bound to accomplish Against which M. Abbot declameth as a thing impossible because S. Augustine telleth vs That there is no example of perfect righteousnes among men That this is the perfection of man to find himselfe not to be perfect To whome he also addeth the authorityes of S. Hierome of Origen calling our righteousnes in this life vnperfect wanting of perfection and an image or shadow of vertuâ— Likewise of the Apostles tearming himselfe according to S. Augustine vnperfect a trauailler to perfection not as one that was come vnto it Thus he not vnlike the Stoickes whome S. Hierome and S. Augustine reprehend for their doting phrenzy in cauilling that he who profiteth in wisedome cannot be sayd to haue any wisedome vntill he come to be perfect therein 6. But as concerning the matter in hand I briefly reply with our Angelicall Doctour S. Thomas and with August coâ—t â— ep Pelag. l. 3. 6. 7. Augu. de spir lit c. 36. Hier. l. â— cont Pela Aug. ep 26. S. Thom. q. 24. art 8. Baâ—nes Lor. â—lij in eum articul all other Deuines commenting vpon him That there is a threefold degree of perfection The first is of them who are so firmely rooted in charity as they detest all thinges contrary repugnant to the law of God that is al mortall and deadly crymes by which charity is extinguished this degree all the iust who are in the fauour of God attayne vnto The second is that which excludeth not only euery grieuous sinne but as much as our humane frailty with Gods grace can do euery little imperfection euery superfluous care let or impediment which diuerteth our minds or withdraweth our harts from the loue of soueraigne goodnes to this not all the iust but some religious and zealous persons by continuall mortification and abnegation of
my whole hart I in al my hart will search thy commmandments Howbeit he busied also Iudith â— 17. 2. Reg. 5. v. 1â— himselfe in the affayres of the common wealth and was often distracted with temporall cares And the priestes and people prayed God with al their hart although they were sometyme interrupted with other cogitations All Israell is sayd 4. Reg. 23. v. 25. to follow Absalom with al their hart albeyt they managed some other affayres no doubt and affected some other thing besides him Of Iosias God himselfe witnesseth There was no king before him like to him that returned to our Lord in all his hart and in all his soule and in all his power according to the law of Moyses neyther after him did there arise the like to him 6. In fine Protestantes obserue the precept of Faith by which they are likewise commaunded to beleeue withall their hart Yf thou beleeue with all thy hart thou maiest Act. 8. v. 3â— notwithstanding they giue humane credit to many other authentical histories or probable reportes without hinderance thereof so they may accomplish the commandment of louing God with all the powers of their soule when this loue ouerswayeth the loue of all other thinges when they make him the principall obiect of their hart and summe of their desires when they neyther imbrace nor execute any thing oppofite or disagreable with his frendiship which diuers haue and euery one may by the prerogatiue of Grace atteyne vnto Thirdly S. Paul professeth I can all thinges in him that strengthneth me therfore he could by the strenght of grace fulfil the commaundments or els you derogate both from the authority of the Apostle who affirmeth it and from the power of grace by vertue whereof he many accomplish whatsoeuer Moreouer Philip. 4. v. 13. God maketh this promise vnto vs I will put my spirit in the middest of you and I will make that you walke in my preceptes and keepe my iudgements and doe them Christ testifieth the performance I haue manifested thy name to the men whome thou Ezech. 36. v. 27. gauest me c. and they haue kept thy word Yet notwithstanding the possibility S. Paul speaketh of notwithstanding the promise of God the Father notwithstanding the accomplishment the Sonne mentioneth do they breath vpon Ioh. 17. v. 6 the earth and vaunt of Christianity who depose against them that neuer any fulfilled the law That it is not possible for man to accomplish it 7. Thus much for the mayntenance of our doctrine Now to the obiections of aduersaries First they vrge out S. Paul Cursed be euery one that abideth not in all things that be Gal. 3. v. 10. written in the booke of the law to do them But no man can obserue euery iote of the law without some litle or veniall default therefore he is obnoxious to that damnable curse Iac. 2. v. 10. For whosoeuer shall keep the whole law and offendeth but in one is made guiltie of all Truly they haue framed an excellent Argument to proue themselues accursed who freely confesse they cannot keep any one precept of the law much lesse the whole But we to whome the coÌ„mandments by Gods Hier. Ep. ad Pâ—efiph 1. Iob. 3. v. 6. 9. grace are possible according to S. Hierome we who by the seed of God dwelling in vs do not sinne but arriue to the full accomplishment of the law and of all thinges written and conteyned therein we I say are free from that malediction for veniall sinnes do not in that sense breake or violate the law neyther doth S. Paul pronounce that curse of them as appeareth by the playne text of Deuteronomy whence he reciteth those words but of mortal and deadly crimes of Idolatry incest murder c. which are indeed grieuous breaches traÌ„nsgressions of the Law Therfore Deuâ— 17â— v. 26. he that obserueth the rest and coÌ„mitteth any one of those is liable to the curse of the law he is made guilty as S. Iames witnesseth of the whole not that he who stealeth should be guilty of adultery or he who is an adulterer is therein a murderer or that he who traÌ„sgresseth one coÌ„maundement shal be as seuerely punished tormented in hell as if he had brokeÌ„ al but the sense is that he who offeÌ„deth in one eyther incurreth the wrath and indignation of God the vniuersal authour enacter of them al or caÌ„ haue no more Aug. ep 26 hope of obtayning saluatioÌ„ then if he were guilty of al or that he sinneth as S. Augustine interpreteth against the general great coÌ„mandment of loue Charity the summe the band the plenitude and perfection of them all for the breaking of the band is the dissoluing of the whole 8. I answere agayne that S. Pauls argument here alleadged inferreth the possibility of keeping the law for which we dispute he reasoneth to this effect Whosoeuer wil be iustified by the workes of the law must fullfill the whole taske of the law But without faith in Christ no man can by the force of nature vndergo or do the whole taske of the Law Therfore without faith through the strength of nature no man can be iustified by the workes of the law Hence he inferreth Christ hath deliuereth vs froÌ„ the eurse of the law he doth not meane as Protestants falsify him that he hath discharged vs from the obseruation of the law as from a thing vnpossible but that he inspireth fayth and affordeth grace from the Storehouse of of his merites whereby we may keepe the law and so eschewthe malediction or curse of transgression which the delinquentes incurre 9. Secondly it is opposed Now therefore why tempt you God to put a yoake vpon the neckes of the disciples which neyther our Fathers nor we haue beene able to beare I answere that S. Act. 15. v. 10. Peter there calleth not the obseruation of the decalogue but the ceremoniall law of the Iewes a yoake insupportable because it was very hard and difficult as S. Thomas S. Thom. in 2. dist 28. q. 1. at 4. ad 3. Lyran. in bunolocuÌ„ Rab. Moy. 3. duct dub cap. 56. 57. Abulen in c. 1. Ruth q. 24. Ios 11. v. 15. and Lyranus note to be fulfilled For all their precepts were as Rabby Moyses and Abulensis recount them 600. or there about amongst which were 218. that were affirmatiue and 365. negatiue commandements then the obligation of them was strictly and punctually to be obserued the transgression capitall and punished with all seuerity yet King Dauid Zachary Elizabeth Moyses Iosue c. fulfilled them for of Iosue the Scripture giueth testimony He accomplished all thinges he omitted not of all the commandementes not so much as one worde which our Lord had commanded Moyses Now Christ hath exempted vs from that combersome yoke from that Burthen as S. Augustine calleth it of innumerable Ceremonies yet not which Libertines pretend from the * Aug.
haue giuen him to will and to runne if contemning his vocation he had not become reprobate Iudas was 〈…〉 reprobate Origen notwithstanding Orig. l. 8. in ep ad Rom. Chrysost hom 16. in cap. 9. ad Rom. Chrysost hom 4 de laâ—d Paul ad fin Concil Arâ—usican â—ap 25. writeth of him that it was in his power if he wold to haue equalled in sanctitie S. Peter and S. Iohn Pharao was a reprobate of whome S. Chrysostome auerreth that God did what lay in him to saue him who if he were not saued the whole fault was his owne He also teacheth that euery one if he endeauour may arriue to the holines and perfection of S. Paul To which effect it is defined by the Arausican Councell that all the baptized Christ ayding and cooperating with them are able if they will labour faithfully and ought to fullfil the things that appeartaine to saluatioÌ„ 5. In like mannerâ— that the Predestinate may forfeit their saluation loose their grace and be damned we need not seeke any other proof then the testimonies of holy Writ For S. Paul an elect witnesseth of his owne person I chastise my body and bring it into seruitude least perhapes when I haue preached to others my selfe become a reprobate 1. Cor. 9. 27. Sap. 4. 11. Eccles c. 31. 10. Apocalyps 3. 11. 2. Pet. 1. 10. VVhitak cont 2. q. 6. cap. 3. Fulk in c. 6. ad Roman sect 2. 5. Of another it is testified he was taken away least malice might change his vnderstanding and fiction begiule his soule therfore he might haue bin altered and deceiued if he had not bin preuented by God Of a third it is said He could haue transgressed and transgressed not haue done euill and did not 〈◊〉 Iohn in the Apocalyps exhorteth the predestinate to perscuere coÌ„stant least they be frustrated of their hope Behold I come quickly hold that thou hast that no man receaue thy crowne And S. Peter Wherfore my brethren rather endeauour that by ' good works you may make sure your vocation and election But these thinges haue bin sufficiently proued heertofore in the 24. and 25. controuersies 6. The eight heresy falsly supposeth that Predestination according to the whole chaine and lincke of euery effect which followeth theron is altogether of God in so much as neither our iustification saluation nor any execution of his will in this kind dependeth of the sacraments of the Church or of our good Works as their instrumentall or meritorious causes but of Gods election as Whitaker auerreth of his promises and Christs merits And Fulke Neither Baptisme nor any works of Christian religion cause iustification but Baptisme is a seale good workes fruites therof Again the Elect work willingly to their saluation c. but they do not therby deserue their saluation for saluation dependeth vpon their election Howbeit the holy ghost in his sacred Word directly teacheth that by Baptisme and other Sacraments we are truly a Marc. vlt. v. 16. saued b Tit. 3. 5. regenerate c Ioa. 3. 5. new borne d Tit. 3. 7. iustified e 1. Corin. 10. 17. incorporated to Christ f Ioan. 6. 56. made one with him he with vs. That by g Act. 8. 18. theÌ„we receaue the holy Ghost h Act. 2. 38. obteine remission of our sinnes i 2. ad Tim. 1. 6. inhereÌ„t grace k Ioan. 3. 5. entrance to the kingdome of heauen l Tit. 3. 7. Aug. in ps 7â— are made heires of euerlasting life Therfore they are true causes of our iustice and instruments of our saluation To which Saint Augustine subscribeth setting downe the differeÌ„ce betwixt the sacrameÌ„ts of the old law and of the new in these words Some sacraments there are that giue saluation others that promise a Sauiour The Sacraments of the new Testament giue saluation the sacraments of the old Testament Gregor l. 6. c. 3. in prim Regum promised a Sauiour And S. Gregory Outwardly we receaue the sacraments that we may be inwardly replenished with the grace of the holy ghost 7. Likewise the execution of Gods predestination is often furthered and effected by the prayers of Saints or other holy men vpon earth as S. Augustine testifieth If Stephen had not prayed the Church had not enioyed Paul Besids Perchance there are some heere predestinate to be graunted by our prayers Moreouer he exhorteth vs to correct all sorts of Aug. ser 1. de sanct Aug. de bon perf 2. Timoth. 2. 10. 1. Timoth. 4. v. vlt. 2. Pet. 1. 10. 1. Corinth 9. Ther shold be noe iudgenunt at all sayth S. Augustin if men sinned by the will of God Aug. tom 7. ad artic sibi falso impositos artic 10. sinners because correction is a meane that the predestinate may obteine their designed glory The same is also taught by S. Gregory Prosper and others and is grounded on these words of Scripture I susteine all things for the elect that they also may obteine the saluation which is in Christ Iesus with heauenly glory For this doing thou shalt saue thy selfe others By good works make sure your vocation and election So runne that you may comprehend Therfore by running we do comprehend by running we winne the goale of eternall felicity Or if we do not if saluation dependeth of gods election and not of our good endeauous damnation dependeth in like sort of his reprobation and not of our misdeeds the doome pronounced by God against the accursed in the latter day is not for their sinnes as the causes of their perdition but the true cause therof is the will of God his eternalll will which in Protestants conceit vndeseruedly reiecteth and abandoneth them Let the Scriptures theÌ„ be false the generall iudgment peruerse the bookes of conscience brought foorth in vaine their euidences reiected the sentence of our iudge reuersed and called back by you as not deliuering the right cause of mans eternall torments in brief let heauen and earth faile and your phrensies only take place 8. The ninth heresy which springeth from that bastard Fulk in ca. 3. ad Rom. sect 4. root of making God the authour of mans destructioÌ„ setteth abroach the contrary wills which M. Fulke assigneth to God to wit his reuealed and secret will For either he supposeth they are two distinct wills allowing that sacrilegious disunion and diuorcement of affection in our true soueraigne God which Tullie disalloweth as the roote Tull. l. 2. de nat Deorum of dissention euen in his false and heathenish Gods and as he distinguisheth his will so he must deuide the vnity of his nature he must needs confesse one God abhorring sinnes the other approuing them with the viperous Manichees Or doth he meane there is but one wil which as reuealed detesteth sinne as secret and hidden liketh well of it then let him tel me how he liketh or decreeth those thinges with his secret purpose which he hath openly forbidden by
v. 10. Ecclesiast â—6 v. 15. Matt. v. â—2 Matth. 20. v. â— Ier. 31. v. 16. Rom. 2. v. 6. ad Corinth 3. v. 8. Apoc. 22. v. 12. Abbot in his defence c. 5. sect 14 fol. 686. Fulk in ca. 3. 1. ad Corinth sect 2. In â—p 4. 2. ad Tim. sect 4. in c. 25. Matth. sect 6. to all thy mercyes in the Chaldeake it is My merits are lesse then all thy mercies which thou hast shewed to thy seruant And in Ecclesiasticus All mercy shall make a place to euery man according to the merites of his workes And although the Greeke hath only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to his workes yet that importeth the same with the Latine as I shall shew hereafter and the Scripture witnesseth in those places where eternall life prepared to good works is entitled merces a reward or hire which must needes be correspondent to merit or desert Be glad and reioyce because your reward is very great in heauen Call the workmen and pray them their hire Let thy voyce cease from weeping and thine eies from teares because there is a reward for thy worke God rendreth or giueth reward to the iust according to their workes according to their owne labours 3. Our aduersaries make answere to these and the like argumentes First that heauen is called a Crowne a reward secundum quid and in a respect simply and absolutely it is only a gift because it is giuen according to grace according to mercy not according to desert or merit But we reply that although the originall from whence it proceedeth be grace and mercy yet that grace being communicated vpon this solemne bargaine couenant or promise of rewarding our workes performed and dignified therewith it must of necessity include a dignity in them For euery reward hath an absolute and intrinsecall 2. ad Tim 4. Matt. 20. v. 4. v. 13. 14. Aug lib. de saÌ„ct virg c. 26. Hie. l. con Iou. Chrysost Theophil Euthim. in eum locuÌ„ reference to some proportion of worthines or merit Heere is a true and absolute reward therefore a true and absolute merit For which cause the reward is termed a Crowne not only of grace but a Crowne of Iustice due vnto vs by a certaine right of title of iustice Friend I do thee no wrong c. Take that is thine and go Where he speaketh of the day-penny by which S. Augustine S. Hierome S. Chrysostome Theophilact and Euthymius vnderstand the Kingdome of heauen and yet he stileth it his to wit his by couenant his by iustice and not only by gift vpon the same ground S. Paul calleth God a iust iudge in rewarding our workes God is not vniust to forget your workes 2. Tim. 4. ad Heb. 6. 10. Fulk in c. 4. 2. ad Tim. sect 4. Abbot in his defence â— 5 sect 1. 4. 4. The second Answere which D. Fulke D. Abbot and the residue of their fraternity returne hereunto is That the reward is due by couenant and so a debt in respect of Gods promise not of our desert Likewise God rendreth heauen say they as a iust iudge not to the merit and worthines of our workes but to the merit and worthines of Christ imputed by faith vnto vs. These be the guilty shiftes they deuise to entaile all vpon Christ and vpon Gods promise which he by those meanes most bountifully vouchsafeth to communicate vnto vs. For although it be true that the diuine promise and Christs Iustice be necessary to enable vs to merit yet they are not the chiefest thinges which God regardeth in rewarding our workes For the Promise is the same the Imputation the same equally made and attributed vnto all but the Remuneration is diuers in equally assigned more or lesse correspondent to the slacknes Matth. 1â— v. 27. â— ad Cor. 3. v. 8. ad Gal. 6. v 7. â— Ibidem v. 9 or industry of our labours The Sonne of man will render to euery one according to his works Euery man shall receaue his owne reward according to his owne labour What thinges a man shall sowe those also shall he reape For he that soweth in his flesh of the flesh shall reape corruption but he that soweth in the spirit shall reape life euerlasting So that the seede the price and proper cause of euerlasting life is not only fayth nor the promise of God or merits of Christ alone but also our good deedes of piety and deuotion which heere we sowe vpon earth For the Apostle goeth forward in the same Apoc. 22. v. 12. Fulk in â— ad Cor. 3. sect 2. Caluin 3. instit cap. 18. §. â— 7. place Doing good let vs not faile for in due time we shall reape not fayling Therefore whiles we haue time let vs worke good to all Behould I come quickly and my reward is with me to render to euery maâ— according to his workes Fulke reading this phrase so often repeated in holy Scripture graunteth that euery one receaueth the crowne of glory according to his workes according to his labour yet not according to the merit of his labour which others more plainly explicating allow it giuen to our workes as signes of our fayth not as causes meritorious of the same But the latin text of Ecclesiasticus hath that very word according to the merit of our workes Eccles 16 v. â—â— which necessarily implieth a meritorious cause Besides holy Writ affirmeth That we receaue the crowne of blisse as the reward wages and hire of our labours therefore according to the merit of our labours For hire wages and reward haue mutuall correspondence and inseparable connexion with merit in so much as heauen â— ad Cor. 9. v. 24. Mâ—â—â— 11. v. â—2 Matt. 13. v. 45. Aug. in Psal 93. prope finem Basil in hom quam scripfit in initium Prouerb Clem. Aâ—â— in paraenâ—â— is proposed vnto vs as a goale or price to be wonne by running as a Kingdome inuaded by force as an inestimable gemme prized at the rate of our best indeauours as a treasure to be bought by the value worthines or condignity of our workes the true meritorious and morall causes thereof In the race all runne indeed but one receaueth the price So runne that you may obteine The Kingdome of heauen suffreth violence the violent beare it away Againe The Kingdom of heauen is like to a merchant-man seeking good pearles hauing sound one precious pearle c. sold all that he had and bought it S. Augustine Euerlasting life and rest is salable and bought by tribulations for Christ S. Basil We are negotiators or merchantes who trace the Euangelicall path purchasing the possession of heauen by the workes of the commundements Let it not repent you to haue laboured it is lawfull for you if you will to buy most precious saluation with a proper treasure by charity and fayth which truly is a iust price 5. Moreouer I demonstrate it irrefragably in this Syllogisticall manner