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Ma. Those only are joyned in friendship with God, who are like unto him.
Mi. They who are infected with the pol∣lution of Sins, are not like God.
Concl. Therefore, none of those, to whom pollution of Sin cleaves, have any Union with God.
And thence on the contrary sense it is ga∣thered, that it must be concluded by necessa∣ry consequence, that all spots of Sins being abolished; That man who desires Union with God, should agree with him by a certain eminent resemblance.
I Answer, First, to the major which is not always true. Though the similitude of man∣ners hath oftimes no small strength to procure Friendship in the com∣mon use of Life, as Cicero says; yet all things that are any way un∣like are not so opposed, that they cannot consist together without fighting one against another. As there are many differences in things, yet every difference doth not unty the bond of love. As again neither do all Men every where cleave to one another by a firm bond of Friendship, who∣soever do some way agree in en∣dowments and Ingeny. Verily in the Divine Love, this agreement of Conformity hath no place; That they should be received into favour, who came nearest to his Image. For so it would come to pass that all other Creatures being excluded, Almighty God would embrace only Angeli∣cal Vertues, with his Divine Favour.
Though neither here, if you look to Angels themselves, doth any proportion of similitude unite into one with the Divine Holyness, ac∣cording to the Testimony of Rof∣fensis: Who says that the Righte∣ousness of Men is another than that of Angels; and again, that their Righteousness is another than that of God. As therefore this Righteousness of Angels, if you compare it with the Righteous∣ness
of God, will seem imperfect, and beyond all comparison coming short of that highest Righteousness, and which yet perhaps is with∣out Sin: So if you compare Human Perfecti∣on with Angelical, it will have some Imper∣fection; yet so, that all its works are not subject to Sin. Hitherto spake Roffensis. Augustin also comes to this Point, who comparing our Righteousness which now is with that which is to come, hath these words con∣cerning its dissimilitude; when that Righteousness, saith he, according to which they live, shall be, and where no evil con∣cupiscence shall be, let every Man measure himself what he is now and what he shall be then, and he will find in comparison of that Righteousness, that all his works now are loss and dung, &c.
And presently after: In the Resurrection we believe we shall fulfil Righteousness, that is, that we shall have full Righteousness. In comparison of that all the Life we live now is dung, &c. And now, Osorius, what Agree∣ment of similitude will you find between this Life of dung, and that highest Author, and Prince of all Holiness.
There is no∣thing that so much allures unto Friend∣ship as simili tude, where∣by it comes to pass that good Men love good Men. Cicero, in Lelius. The like al∣ways cleaves to the like. Plat. of Love.
Roffens. cont. Luther. Articul. 38.
Aug. de tem∣pore: Sermone 49.