A replie to Iesuit Fishers answere to certain questions propou[n]ded by his most gratious Matie: King Iames By Francis White D: of Div· deane of Carlile, chaplaine to his Matie. Hereunto is annexed, a conference of the right: R:B: of St Dauids wth the same Iesuit*

ANSVVER. [ B]

First, the promise of God whereby he obligeth himselfe to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a benefit to his People vpon their obedience, inferreth not desert a or merit on their part, as appeareth in repentance, whereunto the Lord promiseth mercie, remission of sinnes, and saluation, and obligeth himselfe by oath, Ezech. 18.31, 32. & ca. 33.11. and yet the benefit conferred is not of Merit, but of Grace.

God Almighty promised to bestow the land of Canaan vpon the Israelites, and he bound himselfe thereto by oath, Exod. 13. 5. Neuerthelesse, he gaue this good land to them, not for their owne merits, but of his free bountie. Deut. 7. v. 7, 8, & chap. 9. 5. Secondly, it is false, that God hath obliged himself by promise to reward the good Works of his children according to the de∣sert [ D] of their goodnesse; for he rewardeth them according to his owne bountie b, but not according to their own defert, yea he re∣wardeth aboue desert c, and in part contrary to desert, Ps. 103.10.

Thirdly, the disputation of Schoolemen, whether Gods liberall promise supposed, the goodnesse of the worke concurre partially with the diuine promise to oblige God, is of so great moment, that Vasques the Iesuit saith e, They which hold the [ E] former without teaching the latter, destroy Merit, teaching the same in words, and really denying it.

Notes

• a

  Durand. 2. d. 27. q. 2. n. 15. Pro∣missio diuina in Scripturis sanctis, non 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in ali∣quam obligatio∣nem, sed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 meram dispositio∣nem 〈◊〉〈◊〉 diuinae. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 est 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quod 〈◊〉〈◊〉 non ex debito precedentis operis, sed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 promissione pre cedente non quidem 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ex merito operis de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sed solum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 principaliter ex promisso. Bassol. 2. d. 27. ar. 4. Sicut si alicuj promit∣teretur [ C] regnum pro 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leuaret festucam deberetur 〈◊〉〈◊〉, non ex condignitate actus le∣uandi 〈◊〉〈◊〉, sed 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 d. 20. q. 1. Quilibet obligatur ex promisso, Deus au∣tem promisserat, &c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quod verba Scripturae, &c. non insinuant promissionem ex parte Dei, sed sim∣plicem eius 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 & sic non est ibi aliquod 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• d Greg. Papa Moral. li. 9. ca. 27. Si remota pietate discutimur, opus nostrum poena dignum est, quod remunerari prae∣mijs postulamus.
• b

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Quod. lib. 17. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2. Talis dignitas in Actu nihil est nisi accep∣tatio passiua, vo∣luntatis diuinae.
• c

  Greg. Arimin. 1. d. 17. q. 1. ar. 2. Huic etiam concordat commune dictum Doctorum dicentiū quod Deus praemiat 〈◊〉〈◊〉 condignum.
• e

  Vasques 1. 2. Disp. 214. c. 5. n. 23. Doctores, &c. bo∣nis operibus secū∣dum se dignitatem negantes, totam dignitarem nostrorum operum referunt in Dei 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & acceptatio∣nem per Christi merita, quod quidem nihil aliud est, quam veram & perfectam rationem meriti, solis Christi operibus ascribere.