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 third conclusion.

The meritorious cause as wel of saluation as of iustification, is Christ Iesus and none els. This conclusion wilbe manifest, if we seriously reuolue in our minds the wonderful mystery of mans redemption. In which kind of holy meditation, whosoe∣uer shal deuoutly exercise himselfe; that man doubtlesse wil e∣spie with facilitie, these foure most excellent attributes of our most sweete redeemer; to wit, his iustice, his mercie, his wise∣dome, his loue. For first, as the worthines of the person increa∣seth, so doth also the offence against the saide person commit∣ted. [ 1] Wherupon it commeth, that a reprochful word spoken a∣gainst a meane priuate person, is in respect a small offence; when it is spoken against a magistrate,* 1.1 it is great••r; when a∣gainst our soueraigne, the greatest of all: and consequently, when we offend God, whose person is of infinite worthienes, our offence must needes be infinite, howsoeuer our late papists flatter themselues in their venials; and so man vncapable of e∣uerie infinite action, cannot possibly yeeld any condigne com∣pensation: and yet god of his iustice cannot pardon sin, without condigne compensatiō for the same. Behold here Gods iustice. [ 2] Secondly, in rigor of iustice the partie that offendeth, is bound to make satisfaction for the fault,* 1.2 neither is the partie offended bound to accept the satisfaction of any other: and conseqently God was not bound to accept his sonnes satisfaction for our

sinnes, though it were most sufficient, and of infinite dignitie. In this Gods mercie shewed it selfe. Thirdly, on the one [ 3] side pure God could not satisfie,* 1.3 though he were of infinit dig∣nitie, because pure God is impassible; on the other side, pure man was not able, because euerie his action was insufficient, as of which no one amongst al could be infinite; God therefore appointed his onely sonne to be incarnate, to ioyne humanitie with diuinity in hypostatical vnion, and so to make attonement for our sinnes. For as man hee was passible, and as God he was able to giue infinite dignitie to his passion. Wherein we may beholde Gods diuine wisedome. Fourthly, God seeing [ 4] man in the chaines, and bondage,* 1.4 and thraldome of the deuill through sin, and hauing tender compassion of him in such his distresse, sent his owne deare sonne to set him at libertie again; and this he did of meere loue, without all merits and deserts of man.* 1.5 For (as Christ himselfe saith) God so loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten sonne, that whosoeuer belee∣ueth in him should not perish, but haue life euerlasting.

All (saith the apostle) haue sinned,* 1.6 and are depriued of the glorie of God, and are iustified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus. Againe in another place,* 1.7 As by the offence of one, the fault came on al men to condem∣nation, so by the iustifying of one, the benefit abounded to∣warde all men to the iustification of life. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one, many shall be made righteous. This is the stone (saith Saint Peter) which the builders refused,* 1.8 which is become the head of the corner; neither is there saluation in any other: for among men there is giuen none other name vnder heauen, whereby wee must be saued. Wee haue an aduocate with the father (saith Saint Iohn) euen Iesus Christ the iust,* 1.9 and he is the reconciliation for our sinnes. Christ redeemed vs (saith Saint Paul,) from the curse of the lawe,* 1.10 while hee was made a curse for vs. Againe in another place, In whome wee haue redemption through his bloud, that is,* 1.11 the forgiuenesse of our sinnes. Againe, Who did by himselfe purge our sinnes,* 1.12 and sitteth on the right hand of maiestie on high. Againe, For he hath made him to be sinne for vs, that knew no sinne,* 1.13 that we

should be made the righteousnes of God in him.* 1.14 These (saith S. Iohn) are they which came from great tribulatiō, & washed their stoales, and made them white in the bloud of the Lambe. Again in another place; The bloud of Iesus Christ doth purge vs from all sin.* 1.15 I, euen I am hee (saith God by his Prophet) that blotteth out thine infirmities (not for thy deserts,* 1.16 but) for mine owne sake. Againe in another place; He was wounded for our iniquities, hee was torne in peeces for our offences. S. Austen shal conclude this point, who writeth in this maner. Dominus noster Iesus Christus mori venit,* 1.17 peccare non venit, communicando nobiscum sine culpa poenam, & culpam soluit & poenam. Our Lord came to die, he came not to sin; communica∣ting paine with vs without sinne, he loosed both sinne, and the paine of sinne.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The attribute of Gods iustice.
• * 1.2

  The attribute of Gods mercie.
• * 1.3

  The attribute of Gods wisedome.
• * 1.4

  The attribute of Gods loue.
• * 1.5

  Ioan. 3.16.
• * 1.6

  Rom 3.23, 24.
• * 1.7

  Rom. 5.18, 19.
• * 1.8

  Act. 4.11.
• * 1.9

  1. Io. 2.1, 2.
• * 1.10

  Gal. 3.13.
• * 1.11

  Col. 1.14.
• * 1.12

  Heb. 1.2, 3.
• * 1.13

  2. Cor. 5.21
• * 1.14

  Apoc. 7.14.
• * 1.15

  ••. Io. 1.8.
• * 1.16

  ••sa. 43.55. ••sa. 53.5.
• * 1.17

  August. serm. 141 de temp. tom. 10.