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Bellarmine hath this position, that a man, if no tentation doe vrge him, without faith, or any speciall assistance from God, may by his owne strength doe something morally good,
it a vt nullum peceatum in eo admittat, so that therein he shall not commit any sinne, lib. 5. iustificat. c. 5.
That the falsitie of this assertion may the better appeare, 1. We must distinguish of the light that is giuen vnto man, which is threefold. 1. There is the light of nature, which Christ giueth vnto euerie one, that commeth into the world, as he is their Creator Ioh. 1.9. this is giuen vnto all by nature: they are endued with a reasonable soule, and in the same by nature is imprinted this light. 2. there is beside this naturall light, an other speciall light and direction concurring with that naturall light, which though it be not so generall as the other, yet it is common to many vnregenerate men, that haue not the knowledge of God, as the Lord saith to Abimelech, Gen. 20.6. I kept thee that thou shouldst not sinne against me: this common grace many of the heathen had, whereby they were preserued from many notorious crimes, which other did fall into. 3. There is beside these the grace of Christ, whereby we are regenerate, and enabled to doe that which is acceptable vnto God through Christ: of this grace we meane, that without it the light of nature is not sufficient to bring forth any good worke.
2. Secondly, we graunt, that this light of nature, beeing illuminated by the grace of Gods spirit, and lightened and perfected by faith, is able to bring men to performe good workes agreeable to the lawe: As is euident in the fathers before the flood, and after the flood in Noah, Sem, Abraham, and other of the faithfull, when as the lawe and Scriptures were yet vnwritten, that by the grace of God, which lightened their naturall vnderstan∣ding, they wrought righteousnesse and pleased God.
3. But this must be receiued withall, that Gods grace and the light of nature doe not concurre together as cooperators and fellowe workers: but it is grace onely that worketh, the nature of man is wrought vpon: the spirit of God is onely actiue, the power of nature is passiue in all good workes: and therefore in this sense, we mislike that position of Perei∣us, legem naturalem Christi gratia illustratam valere ad piè vinendum, that the lawe of na∣ture lightened by the grace of Christ avayleth to liue well: for thus the lawe of nature it made a ioynt worker with grace vnto godlinesse of life: we say it is wrought vpon by grace, it worketh not, but onely as a naturall facultie and agent: the spirituall goodnesse is all of grace.
4. But that no vertuous act or morall good worke can be performed by the light of na∣ture onely without grace, it is euident out of these, and such other places of Scripture, Gen. 6.5. The imaginations of the thoughts of mans heart, are onely euill continually. Ioh. 3.6. That which is borne of the flesh is flesh: Ioh. 15.5. Without me ye can doe nothing: Rom. 14.23. Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne: All these places euidently shewe, that there is no acti∣uitie, power, abilitie, or inclination to any thing by nature without grace: see further, Sy∣nops. Centur. 4. err. 43. pag. 845.