Synopsis papismi, that is, A generall viewe of papistry wherein the whole mysterie of iniquitie, and summe of antichristian doctrine is set downe, which is maintained this day by the Synagogue of Rome, against the Church of Christ, together with an antithesis of the true Christian faith, and an antidotum or counterpoyson out of the Scriptures, against the whore of Babylons filthy cuppe of abominations: deuided into three bookes or centuries, that is, so many hundreds of popish heresies and errors. Collected by Andrew Willet Bachelor of Diuinity.

THE THIRD PART, OF THE WORKES of Supererogation.

The Papists.

THey teach, that it is not onely possible for men to keep the Lawe of God in [error 70] this life, but to doe more then is prescribed or commanded: and that men of their abundance may allotte vnto others such workes of supererogation, Rhemist. 1. Cor. 9. sect. 6. ex Tileman. loc. 3. er. 16.

Argu. 2. Cor. 8. sect. 3. As your abundance now supplyeth their want, their abundance also may supply your want, that there may be equality. Saints or other vertuous persons may in measure and proportion of other mens deser∣uings,

allot vnto them as well the supererogation of their spirituall works as these, that abound in worldly goods, may giue almes of their superfluities, to them which are in necessitie, Rhemist. totid. verbi••.

Ans. 1. This place prooueth no communication of merites of one to another: but that as euery one aboundeth in the gifts and graces of God, so they ought to communicate the vse thereof one to anothers benefite: for no man meriteth himselfe by any worke of his: therefore he cannot communicate that to ano∣ther, which he hath not himselfe. Here also mention is made of mutuall com∣munication, for one to supply anothers want: but he that doth supererogate to another of the abundance of his good workes, hath no need to haue his wants supplied by another mans deseruings: therefore there is no mutuall communi∣cating betwene them, which is the thing whereof the Apostle speaketh in this place.

Argum. That no man is holpen by another mans deseruings, but all that a man can doe, is little enough and not sufficient for him selfe; it is plaine in the Gospell: where our Sauiour saith, That when we haue done all that is comman∣ded, we are vnprofitable seruants, and did no more thē was our dutie, Luke 17.10. Ergo, a man can not doe more then his dutie.

We may also remember the parable of the Virgins, Math. 25. where the fiue wise refuse to giue of their oyle to the fiue foolish: least (say they) there will not be enough for vs and you. No man therefore hath attained to such a perfection of goodnes, that he is able to spare ought for his brother, but shal haue need thereof himselfe.

Augustine writing vpon this parable saith, Vnusquis{que} pro se rationem reddet, nec alieno testimonio quicquam adiuuatur apud Deum:* 1.1 et vix sibi quisque sufficit, vt sibi testimonium per hibeat conscientia sua. Euery man shall giue account for himselfe, neither is a man relieued by anothers testimonie before God: the te∣stimonie of a mans conscience is hardly sufficient for himselfe. See more of this matter: Controu. 14. quest. 7. part. 4. & quest. 8. part. 3. articul. 2.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In Math. serm. 22.