The suruey of popery vvherein the reader may cleerely behold, not onely the originall and daily incrementes of papistrie, with an euident confutation of the same; but also a succinct and profitable enarration of the state of Gods Church from Adam vntill Christs ascension, contained in the first and second part thereof: and throughout the third part poperie is turned vp-side downe.

The answer.

I say first that no saint did or can suffer so much as is suffici∣ent [ 1] for his sinnes. And I prooue it euidently, because the best learned papists graunt freely and truely, that euery mortall sin hath in it infinite deformitie, as which is an auersion from God of infinite maiestie, and consequently that God requireth infinite satisfaction for the same: yet so it is that pure man is vncapable of euery infinit action (for otherwise he should be an other God;) and consequently, mans actions of which no one among all can be infinite, can not yeeld condigne compensation for one only mortall sin: and yet is euery sin mortall indeed, as I haue prooued in my Motiues, euen by popish doctrine. Per∣vse the eight article of Dissention in the second Booke of the said Motiues, and thou shalt see euidently, that not only Ger∣son, Durand, Baius, Roffensis, and Almayn (who al were renow∣med papists) but euen the common schooles of late dayes doe holde the same opinion.

I say secondly, that God hath alreadie rewarded euerie saint [ 2] in heauen, (as he will also in time rewarde euerie saint nowe on earth) f••r aboue their deserts. Which I prooue briefly by these two reasons: first, because S. Paul so teacheth vs, when he saith that the sufferings of this life,* 1.1 are not worthy of the glory to come. Which saying I haue answered at large in

my Motiues, there answering all replies that can be made a∣gainst [ 2] the same. Secondly, because it is the popes owne doc∣trine, if papistes were constant to their owne writing. For thus writeth their owne deere frier,* 1.2 M. Iohn de Combis; Hoc patet, qui•• deus semper remunerat supra meritum, sicut punit citra condignum: This is euident (saith our holy frier Iohn) because God euermore rewardeth vs aboue our desertes, and puni∣sheth vs lesse then we be worthie. So then the popes holinesse may apply to himselfe, all the superaboundant merites of his holy nunnes, moonkes, and Iesuites, and flee to heauen as a bird without fethers. I say thirdly, that the want whereof the [ 3] apostle speaketh, is not in the proper passion of Christ, which was of infinite vertue, of infinite worthinesse, of infinite digni∣tie; yea, of such force and efficacie, as the least drop of his most pretious bloud (being the bloud both of God and man, by reason of hypostaticall vnion,) was sufficient for the sinnes of the whole world, and of ten thousand thousand worldes mo, if so many had been.

[ 4] I say fourthly, that God in his eternall decree appointed a certaine measure of afflictions, which not onely Christ shoulde suffer in his owne naturall bodie, but also which his mystical body should suffer the congregation of the faithfull, before the full accomplishment of their glory. Which thing is very eui∣dent by the answere made to the holy martyrs concerning their complaintes presented before the maiestie of God. For thus is it written in Gods booke: How long Lord which art holy and true, doest not thou iudge and auenge our bloud, on them that dwell on the earth? and it was said vnto them, that they should rest for a little season,* 1.3 vntill their fellowe seruauntes and their brethren who should be killed as they were, were fulfilled. Thus saith holy writ.

Out of these wordes of the holy scripture, I note first, that God in his secret counsell hath decreed, aswell the number as [ 1] the persons that shall suffer in his church.

I note secondly, that the afflictions of Gods children shall [ 2] not wholly cease, vntill the generall day of doome.

[ 3] I note thirdly, that God will auenge at that dreadfull day, all iniuries done vnto his saintes.

These annotations well obserued, this illation will ma∣nifestly result out of the same; to wit,* 1.4 that the afflictions wher∣of S. Paule speaketh to the Colossians, were not satisfactions for the sinnes of the church: (for so to suffer was the peculiar office of Christ our only sauiour,) but they were testimonies of y^e zeale and patience which ought to be in the church, and of that conformitie which is required betweene the members of the mysticall body and the head. Which sense may easily be ga∣thered out of Anselmus his golden glosse, vpon the apostles wordes in this place. Thus doth he write;

Adimpleo inquit, ea quae desunt. Cui desunt? in carne mea. Nam in carne Christi quam virgo peperit nihil passionum deest,* 1.5 sed omnes in illa passiones sunt impletae; sed adhuc restat pars passionum eius in mea carne, quas quotidie tolero pro vniuersali corpore eius quod est ecclesia. Si enim ab eruditione fidelium ces∣sarem, has passiones ab infidelibus non sustinerem. Sed quia sem∣per ecclesiae studeo prodesse, semper aduersa cogor tolerare.

I fulfill saith he, those thinges that want. To whom doe they want? in my flesh. For in Christes flesh which the virgine bore, no passion at all wanted, but all passions were fulfilled in it; neuerthelesse some part of his passions yet remaineth in my flesh, which I dayly suffer for his vniuersall body which is the church. For if I should leaue off from instructing the faithful, I might be free frō these persecutions of Infidels. But because I euer desire to profite the church, I am alway enforced to a∣bide persecution.

Out of this graue, vertuous, and learned commentarie, I [ 1] note first, that Christes passion was most absolute and perfect in it selfe.

I note secondly, that some passions of Christ yet remained, [ 2] which S. Paule ought to suffer in his flesh. Where obserue by the way, that the afflictions of the faithful, are reputed Christes own passions: for when Paul persecuted his disciples, he cried aloud; Saule, Saule, why persecutest thou me?* 1.6 I am Iesus whom thou persecutest, it is hard for thee to kicke against the pricke.

I note thirdly, that the afflictions which S. Paul susteined, were for the good of the whole church: yet not by the way of [ 3]

satisfaction, but by the ordinary meanes of christian instruction. For as Anselmus truely saith; afflictions came to the apostle, because he preached the gospel. From preaching whereof if he would haue ceased,* 1.7 he might haue been free from his passions here mentioned. Where we must diligently obserue, that God appointed when, where, and how long S. Paul should preach the gospel, for the good of the whole church. In regard wher∣of S. Paule pronounced woe vnto himselfe, if hee shoulde not preach the gospel.* 1.8 To which preaching of the gospel these pas∣sions were annexed, as the complement of Christes passions: not of his passions in himselfe, but in the church his mysticall body. For as hee suffered once for all in himselfe, for the re∣demption of the world, so doth he still suffer daily in his mem∣bers. For he hath appointed his elect to suffer much tribulati∣on, before they shall possesse eternall rest. Notwithstanding that the glory which we expect doth a thousand fold surmount the miserie of our afflictions. First therefore, since the afflic∣tions [ 1] of Gods saints be reputed Christes owne passions: Se∣condly, [ 2] since S. Paule was appointed when, where, and how [ 3] long he should preach the Gospel: Thirdly, since S. Paule, when he wrote to the Colossians, had not preached the gospel [ 4] so simply and so largely as he was appointed: Fourthly, since he coulde not possibly preach the gospel, but perforce hee must [ 5] suffer persecution for the same: Fiftly, since the taske of prea∣ching was inioyned him, for the benefite of the church, which is Christes mysticall body: I conclude, that when S. Paule said he in his flesh supplied y^e wants of Christes passions for his body the church; he meant nothing els thereby, but that he suffered affliction while hee preached the gospel, as God had appointed for the good of his church. And so there is no place in S. Paule for popish pardons, though the papistes glorie a∣boue measure in this text.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. ••.1••▪
• * 1.2

  Io. de Combis libr. 5. Tholog. ver. cap. 11.
• * 1.3

  Apocalip. 6. v. 10 11.
• * 1.4

  1. Cor. 5. v. 7. 1. Ioan. 2. Heb. 10. v. 14. Osee, 13.4. Esai. 43.25.53.5. 1. Tim. 2. v. 5.
• * 1.5

  Anselm. in 2. cap. Colost.
• * 1.6

  Act. 9. v. ••.
• * 1.7

  Anselm. vbi sup. S. Ambrose ex∣poundeth this text in the selfe same maner.
• * 1.8

  1. Cor 9. v. 17. Heb 10. v. 12.14 1. Pet. 3. ve. 18. 2. Tim. 3. v. 11.12 Rom. 8. v. 17.18. 1. Pet. 2. v. 21.