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. [ C]

First, You couple your selues with Fathers, like as the Pha∣rises did themselues with Abraham; Sed quid Simiae prodest, si vi∣deatur esse Leo, saith Gregorie Nazianzen, An Ape is but an Ape, * 1.1 although he will seeme a Lyon.

Secondly, A man may offer vnto God a free-will offering, and yet herein he performeth no more than he is obliged vn∣to by the Law of gratitude.

Thirdly, It is no part of our Creed, that God in the Euan∣gelicall Couenant seuerely exacteth of man any thing, as ne∣cessarie [ D] to his saluation, which is impossible for him to per∣forme by the assistance of diuine grace a 1.2, and yet wee say a∣gaine, That God by the rule of his Law commandeth a grea∣ter perfection of righteousnesse than man is able to performe in this life b 1.3, that all flesh may be humbled by the sight of in∣firmitie, and consider the gracious indulgence of God, in remit∣ting sinne, and his free bountie, in conferring so great and so many vndeserued benefits.

Fourthly, We praise God as much as any Romists can doe, for his mercifull indulgence, in remitting, and not exacting so

〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 but with all we beleeue [ A] that God hath not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 vs from be∣ing stil his debtors, and we stand perpetually obliged vnto him, touching the debt of Obedience, yea more after Grace recei∣ned than before, Rom. 6. 18. And although he imputeth not 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 defects, when we obey him in the maine, yet this indulgence 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 power to man to merit his owne saluation, much lesse to supererogate, or to communicate his vertuous actions by way of satisfaction, vnto others.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Greg. Naz. in Sent.
• a 1.2

  P. Martir. sup. Rom. 8. Si quis recte intelligat no∣stram assertionem, facile videbit, nos non docere man∣data Dei prorsus esse impossibilia, nisi tantum quod ad eos 〈◊〉〈◊〉, qui à Christo sunt alieni, pa. 457.
• b 1.3

  August. d. pecc. mer. & remiss. lib. 2. cap. 16. Iubet Deus, omnibus hominibus vt [ E] non faciant vllum peccatum, quamuis sit prescius neminem hoc impleturum: vt quicunque impie & dam∣nabiliter eius precepta contempserint, ipse faciat in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 damnatione quod iustum est: Quicunque au∣tem in eius preceptis obedienter & pie proficientes, nec tamen omnia quae precepit implentes, sicuti si∣bi dimitti volunt, si alijs 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dimiserint, ipse faciat in eorum mundatione quod bonum est.