The answer.
If the fauour of God might so easily be procured or promeri∣ted, as some papists write by saying of Aue Maria,* 1.1 or offering to our Ladie a taper, or seruing some saint, I thinke few would die out of the fauour of God. But to that, which I take to be your meaning, if men be in the fauour of God, and haue some merits of their owne, then they may be holpen by other mens deserts. Which collection is tied to this place with points. For though we should vnderstand as you do, by oile, meritorious works, yet the quite contrarie is flatly héerof gathered. First they are héere condemned for fooles that go a borrowing, or séeke helpe at the merits of others. Then they that b•• wise dare spare none from themselues, for feare of wanting themselues. And from whence then may men get that supplie of merits, when they which are wisest and best, can spare none. But bicause you haue no mani∣fest scriptures to warrant your merits, you delight to draw, and straine parables perforce to your purpose. For the meaning of that parable is nothing els, but that they which during life, and the time which God granteth them héere, neglect the ordinarie meanes, which God hath appointed for their saluation, shal wish for it then when it is too late, and when they cannot haue it.