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 answere.

I answere, that if yee were well studied in your owne doc∣tors, and should marke well what they write, yee coulde not be ignorant of this point. Harken therefore what your owne Ber∣nard saith, and after you haue heard him, remember well his

words and neuer forget his holy instruction. Thus writeth he in one place; Cupiebat dissolui,* 1.1 & cum Christo esse sciens quòd peccatum separans inter nos & deum penitùs auferri non pote∣rit, donec liberemur à corpore. Sequitur; itaque dico vobis genus illud peccati quod toties conturbat nos (concupiscentias loquor & desideria mala) reprimi quidem debet & potest per gratiam dei, vt non regnet in nobis, nec demus membra nostra arma ini∣quitatis peccato, & sic nulla damnatio esthis qui sunt in Christo Iesu; sed non eiicitur nisi in morte, quando sic discerpimur, vt anima sepaietur à corpore. The Apostle did couet to be dissol∣ued and to be with Christ, knowing that sinne which maketh a diuision betweene God and vs,* 1.2 cannot wholy bee taken away while we remaine in this bodie. I therefore say vnto you, this kind of sin, which so often troubleth vs, (I speake of concupi∣scence and euill desires) ought & may be repressed by the grace of God, so as it raigne n••t in vs, nor we giue our members to be weapons of iniquitie vnto sinne, and so there is no damnati∣on to those that are in Christ Iesus; but it is not cast out saue only in death, when wee are so torne, that the soule is diuided from the body. Thus he saith in another place, Sit ergo in corde iustitia, & iustitia quae ex fide est.* 1.3 Haec enim sola habet gloriam apud deum. Sit etiam in ore confessio ad salutem, & securus iam suscipe eum qui in Bethlehem Iudae nascitur, Iesum Christum fili∣um Dei. Let righteousnes therefore be in thine heart, euen that iustice which is of faith; for onely that righteousnesse or iustice hath glorie with God, (howsoeuer righteousnes be esteemed among men.) Haue also confession in thy mouth vnto saluation and then receiue him with security, that is borne in Bethlehem of Iuda, Iesus Christ the sonne of God. Thus he saith in the third place; Omne quod natum est ex Deo, non peccat;* 1.4 sed hoc dic∣tum est de praedestinatis ad vitam: non quòd omnino non peccent, sed quòd peccatum ipsis non imputetur. All that is borne of god sinneth not, but this is spoken of the predestinate to life, not be∣cause they sin not at al, but for that sin is not imputed to them.

Thus doth he say in the fourth place, Ʋtique quod factum est,* 1.5 non potest non fieri; ipso tamen non imputante, erit quasi non fu∣erit. Quod propheta quoque considerans ait; Beatus vir cui non imputabit Dominus peccatum. The sinne doubtlesse that is

done, can not be vndone; yet for that God doth not impute sin vnto vs, we shal be as if we had not sinned: which the prophet considering saith; Blessed is the man to whome God shall not impute sinne.

Out of these foure places conteining most comfortable and [ 1] christian doctrine: I note first, that concupiscence remaineth [ 2] in the regenerate, euen vnto death. I note secondly, that it is properly sinne, euen in the regenerate; which being vttered by their owne deere Bernard, giueth a deadly wound to the pa∣pists. For he saith, that that concupiscence which remaineth to death, doth separate vs from God. Which effect, nothing but that which is properly sinne, can possibly worke in man. I note [ 3] thirdly, that although this concupiscence, can not be taken awaie from the regenerate vntil death; yet may it be so repres∣sed by Gods spirite, as it shall not raigne in them, or haue do∣minion ouer them. I note fourthly, that it bringeth not [ 4] damnation to the regenerate, who striue against it; and that, because God doth not impute it to sinne. I note fiftly, that the regenerate are saide not to sinne, not because they sinne not, or haue no sinne indeede; but because God of his meere mercie▪ accepting their faith through the merits of Christ Iesus doth [ 5] not impute sinne vnto them. I note sixtly, that no iustice but that which is of faith, is or can be acceptable in Gods sight. Ioyne these sayings of saint Bernard to the testimonie of saint Austen,* 1.6 cited in the answer to the first obiection, in the seuenth conclusion: and that done, a mightie article of popish doctrine, will be vtterlie ouerthrowne.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Bernard. de ad∣uent. Dom. serm▪ 6. tom. 1.
• * 1.2

  Loe, concupis∣cence in the re∣generate is pro∣perly sinne▪
• * 1.3

  Bernard. in vig••. nat▪ dom. serm. 1.
• * 1.4

  Bernard. de grat. & lib. arbi. pag. 1189.
• * 1.5

  Bernard. serm. 1. in annu••••ia••.
• * 1.6

  Poperie is stric∣ken dead.