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*

ANSWER. [ B]

First, If the Precept, Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thine heart, &c. bind men no further than to an vnfained or sin∣ceere loue of God, and the obseruing of his Commaunde∣ments without breach of friendship, then it bindeth them not to the shunning of veniall sinnes. But according to S. Augustine a, and S. Bernard b, it bindeth man to the auoiding of all sinne, both veniall and mortall.

Secondly, These Fathers c teach expressely, that the Com∣maundement, [ C] Math. 22. 37. bindeth men in this life, as a meanes to humble them, and to prouoke them to sue for Gods mercie. And if the Aduersarie replie, That these Fathers say it is a Precept indicatiue, or significatiue, what is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be done, but not obligant d.

I answer, First, it is the first and greatest Commandement of [ D] the Morall law, Math. 22.38. but the Morall law, and all the Precepts thereof are perpetually obligant.

Secondly, If it bind not, then no temporall paine can suc∣ceed the breach thereof e; but iust persons which obserue other Commaundements, vndergoe temporall paine, Heb. 11. 36.37.

Thirdly, S. Augustine affirmeth f, That it is sinne in man to

〈◊〉〈◊〉 a lesse degree of Charitie than this law requireth: and [ A] that therefore iust persons haue need to pray perpetually, For∣giue vs our Trespasses. But if it were indicatiue, or directiue only, and not obligatorie, this were not true.

Notes

• a

  Aug. d. Spir. & Lit. ca. 36. Verū etiàm in istis leui∣oribus, &c.
• b

  Bernard. in Cant. Serm. 50.
• c

  August. ibid. Sed ideò nobis hoc etiàm nunc praeceptum est. Idem. Epist. 200. Bernard. Ibidem. Nec laterit prae∣ceptorem praecep∣ti pondus, homi∣num excedere vires, &c. Ergò mandando impossibilia, non praeuaricatores homines constituit, sed humi∣les, &c. Accipientes quippè mandatum, & sentientes defectum, clamabimus in. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, & miserabitur 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Deus, & sciemus in illa die, quià non ex 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 quae 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, sed secundum suam misericordiam, saluos nos fecit.
• d

  Stapleton. d. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. lib. 6. ca. 10. pa. 190. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. d. Monach. li. 2. ca. 13.
• e

  Vasques. d. pae∣nit. disp 94. ar. 1. du. 2. n. 3. Deus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 punit, qui iàm dignus non est poena: Ergò dicendum est illum manere dignum ex se etiàm post iu∣stificationem.
• f

  Aug. Ep. 29. Quamdiucharitas augeri potest, profecto illud quod minus est quā debet, ex vitio est: ex quo vitio non est iustus in terra, qui [ E] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & non peccet propter quod vitium, si dixcrimus quod peccatū non babemus, mendaces sumus, &c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quod etiàm 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 necessariū est nobis dicere, dimitte nobis debita nostra, cum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 omnia dicta, facta, cogitata, dimissa 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Id. d. verb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Ser. 2. Id. Ep. 26. ad. Hieron. Propter 〈◊〉〈◊〉 imperfectionis vitiū si dixenmus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 non habemus, nos ipsos fallimus, & veritas in nobis non est, 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 profecerimus necessarium est nobis dicere, dimitte nobis debita nostra, cū 〈◊〉〈◊〉 omnia in Baptismo dimissa sunt: ex quo vitio non 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in conspectu 〈◊〉〈◊〉 omnis viuens.