A defense of the sincere and true translations of the holie Scriptures into the English tong against the manifolde cauils, friuolous quarels, and impudent slaunders of Gregorie Martin, one of the readers of popish diuinitie in the trayterous Seminarie of Rhemes. By William Fvlke D. in Diuinitie, and M. of Pembroke haule in Cambridge. Wherevnto is added a briefe confutation of all such quarrels & cauils, as haue bene of late vttered by diuerse papistes in their English pamphlets, against the writings of the saide William Fvlke.

MART. 22. Againe Beza telleth vs, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sig∣nifieth* 1.1 mercedem quae meritis respondet, that is, a re∣warde* 1.2 answereable to the merites. And wee finde many wordes in the Scripture like vnto this, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 * 1.3 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Which are on Gods parte, who is the rewarder▪ and recompenser. And on our parte wee haue (as the Apo∣stle* 1.4 saith, Hebr. 10. and 4.) greate confidence, confi∣dence (saith Photius a notable Greeke father) of our works, confidence of our faith, of our tentations, of our pa∣tience, &c. Yea wee haue 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the Scripture, whiche muste needes signifie as much as Bezaes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 By the one, is said, In keeping thy commaunde∣mentes is greate rewarde. Againe▪ You shall receyue THE RETRIBVTION of inherimunce. Col. 3. v. 24. And 2. Thessal. 1. v. 6. Gods repaying iust and reiribution of* 1.5 Hell or Heauen for good and euill deser••es▪ is expressed by the same worde. And by the other, is said, I haue inclined my hart to keepe thy iustifications (or commaundements) al∣waies FOR REWARD.* 1.6

FVLK. 22. If you can finde 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the Scrip∣ture, you conuince vs of merite by Bezaes iudgement. Therefore, tell vs I pray you, in what booke and chap∣ter wee shall finde it. First you tell vs, that you finde many wordes like vnto it. Yea, but neyther the same, nor any that is aequiualent. For rendring of rewarde▪ which all your wordes doe signifie, may be according to promise by grace: and not by desert. The confidence of

our workes, that Photius speaketh of, muste be vnder∣stood as they are testimonies of Gods sanctifying spirit, or else it is contrary to the Scripture. The parable tolde* 1.7 against them that trusted in themselues, that they are righteous, whereas we must confesse, that we are vnpro∣fitable seruants in all our obedience, and beste workes that we doe. Yea but you haue 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the Scripture, which must needes signifie as much as Bezaes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Who will yeelde to this necessitie? If a man promise a laborer 20. shillings for euery dayes worke, the rendring of this wages may be called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and yet no man will say, that a daies labour deserueth twentie shillings. That there is great rewarde promised for them that keepe Gods cō∣maundements, wee confesse: but this rewarde is ey∣ther of merite, if they perfectly keepe all Gods com∣maundements, which no man doth: or of mercie, if be∣ing iustified by faith through remission of their sinnes, they endeuour according to the measure of Gods grace, giuen vnto them, to keepe Gods commaundements in some parte, as God giueth strength. In the testimonie of S. Paule, the worde of inheritaunce following imme∣diatly* 1.8 after the worde of rewarde, or retribution, exclu∣deth merites: for the inheritaunce dependeth of Gods free adoption, by which he maketh vs his sonnes, that he may giue vs that inheritāce, which we can neuer deserue. In the other place the Apostle promiseth reward of glo∣ry, to them that suffer for Christes name: which God ha∣uing promised of his meere mercie to giue vs, and the same being purchased for vs by the merites of our Saui∣our Christ: it is as iust before God to render vnto vs, as to repay the wicked with eternall condemnation, accor∣ding to their merites. So that the merites of Christ, and his satisfaction, pleade for vs in all rewardes, and not the merites of our good workes, which yet are not ours, but Gods gifts in vs. That you alledge out of the Psalme, fol∣loweth afterward to be considered.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Annot. in Ro. c. ••. v. 27.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  Hebr. 10. & 11.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Phor. apud Oecum. in Hebr. 10. Ps. 18. & 118. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.7

  Luc. 18. & 17.
• * 1.8

  Coll. 3.