FVLK. 8. For lacke of Scriptures, you flye to the Doctors, to finde merits, in whome neuerthelesse being Catholike, and sound Doctors, you shall sooner find the word Meritum, than your meaning of it. The place of Cyprian, I maruell why you geld, except it be to ioyne the reward that he speaketh of, with the worde merites, which he vseth, either generally for workes, as it is often vsed in the auncient writers: or if he meane thereby de∣serts, he speaketh but of examination onely of all mens deserts, that he may giue to the wicked that they haue deserued,
and to the godly that which he hath promised, therefore he calleth it the rewarde of their faith and de∣uotion. His wordes are these: O diesille qualis & quantus aduenies, fratres dilectissimi, cum caeperit populum suum domi∣nus recensere, & diuinae cognitionis examine singulorum me∣ritum recognoscere, mittere in gehennam nocentés & persecu∣tores nostros, flammae paenalis perpetuo ardore damnare, nobis verò mercedem fidei & deuotionis exoluere. O that day what manner a one and how great shall it come, my deerest beloued brethren, when the Lorde shall beginne to re∣count his people, and by examination of his diuine knowledge consider the merites of euery one, to sende into hell fire the guiltie, and to condemne our persecu∣tors with perpetuall burning of penall flame? but vnto vs to pay the reward of faith and deuotion.The rewarde of faith is not that which beliefe deserueth: but which it looketh for, according to Gods promise, wherevnto it leaneth.
For in respect of deserte of Gods fauour, he saith, and bringeth diuerse textes for proofe: Fidem tan∣tum prodesse & tantum nos posse quantum credimus. That* 1.1 faith only doth profite, and that so much wee can doe, how much we beleeue.Wherfore, we see not in Cyprian the incomparable glory to be a reward of desertes.