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MART. 9. Likewise S. Augustine: The exceeding* 1.1 goodnesse of God hath prouided this, that the labours should soone be ended, but the rewardes of the ME∣RITES* 1.2 should endure without ende: the Apostle testi fying, THE PASSIONS OF THIS TIME ARE NOT COMPARABLE &c. For wee shal receiue greater blisse, than are the afflictions of all passions what soeuer. Thus wee see plainely, that short tri∣bulations are true merites of endlesse glorie, though not compa∣rable to the same: which truth you impugne by your false and hereticall translation. But let vs see further your dealing in the selfe same controuersie, to make it plainer that you bende your translations against it, more than the text of the Scripture doth permit you.
FVLK. 9. A man may see you are driuē to extreme shiftes, when you will seeke Praemia meritorum, in S. Au∣gustine, & can finde it no where, but among the Sermones de sanctis, which beare no credite of Augustines workes: but of some later gatherer. The true Augustine in Ps. 70. Con. 1. thus writeth.
Nihil es per te, deum inuoca, tua peccaia sunt, merita dei sunt, supplicium tibi debetur▪ & cum praemium venerit, sua dona coronabit non merita tua▪ Thou art nothing by thy selfe, call vpon God, thine are the sinnes, the me∣rites are Gods, to thee punishment is due, and when the rewarde shal come, he will crowne his giftes not thy merites. Finally Augustine in nothing is more earnest than in denying the reward which is of grace,to be due in respect of merite or worthinesse of workes.