A compend of the controversies of religion wherin the trueth is confirmed, and errour convinced, by authoritie of Scripture, witnessing of antiquitie, and confession of partie. Most necessary for all, in this backe-slyding age. By W.G. minister of God's word.

§. 3. That no man can satisfie for his sinnes, in anie measure, neither here, nor in Purgatorie.

1. Authoritie of Scripture.

ISai. 63.3. I haue troden the Wine-presse alone, and of all the people, there vvas none vvith mee.

Marke then, If Christ was onlie able to treade the Wine-presse of God's wrath, then hee alone is able to satisfye for sinne, (for both these are one) and all man is excluded.

1. Tim. 2.6. Who gaue Him∣selfe a Ransome for all.

Note then, That a Ransome, or satisfa∣ction for sinne, must bee of an infinite value, such as no suffering of man can bee; and therefore the Sonne of God be∣hoved to giue Him-selfe, who was of in∣finite power and majestie, to bee this Ransome for sinne.

Heb. 1.3. When Hee had by him selfe purged our sinnes, hee sate downe on the right hand of

the Majestie, on high.

Remarke then, That to purge sinne, is the priviledge of Christ, which hee re∣serveth onlie to him-selfe, by him-selfe, and his owne sufferings allanerlie doing that, and not by others, or anie of their sufferings heere, or hence, permitting that to bee done.

Heb. 7.25. Wherefore, hee is able to saue them to the vtter-most, that come vnto God by him.

Note then, If Christ saveth vs to the vtter-most, there remaineth no place for humane satisfaction.

Acts 4.12. Neither is there salvation in anie other, &c.

Note then, That if all our salvation be in Christ, and flow from him onlie, then it is not in anie measure in our selues, and from our selues: so that wee our selues, in respect of our owne satisfa∣ctions, may not bee called our owne re∣deemers, as the Papistes blasphemouslie teach, and the Councell of Trent hath in effect decreed. Bell. l. 1. de indulg. c. 4. §. sexta.

Col. 1.19. In him all fulnesse dwelleth, and by him, even by the blood of his crosse, are all things re∣conciled.

Advert then, That our reconciliation to God, is onelie attributed to the satis∣faction of Christ's blood-shed on the Crosse; and therefore no humane satis∣faction hath place in this worke, seeing reconciliation is the worke of a Media∣tor, and our Mediator behoved to par∣ticipate of both natures, that in him∣selfe, and by him-selfe, hee might re∣concile both.

Revel. 7.14. And hee saide to mee, These are they vvhich came out of great tribulation, and haue vvashed their Robes, and made them vvhite in the blood of the Lambe.

Note therefore, That the verie Mar∣tyres that suffer for Christ, acknow∣ledge onlie the blood of Christ, to bee the perfect satisfaction, and expiation of their sinnes; and therefore are saide to make their Robes whyte, by dipping them no-wise in their owne blood of Martyrdome, as anie way purging, or satisfactorie, but onelie in the blood of the Lambe of God, that taketh away the sinnes of the World.

2. Witnessing of Antiquitie.

BY what paines, and what fastings, can wee wash away our sinnes? saith Ambrose, in Psal. 118. Serm. 20. For the

onlie painfull suffering of the second Adam (sayth Bernard) purgeth them whom the only sinne of the first defyled, and not that anie man's owne satisfactions can availe for him-selfe; for what is our pen∣nance? but that if wee suffer not toge∣ther, wee can-not reigne together. Bern. de verbis lib. Iob. in sex.

3. Confession of Partie.

THe sufferings of Christ is of an in∣finite value, and therefore to joyne the satisfactions of the sufferings of the godlie there-vnto, is al-together super∣fluous, sayth Durandus & Mairones, ci∣ted by Bellarmine, l. 1. de indulg. c. 4. §. tertia. As al-so the verie glosse of the canon Law, Dist. 1. de penitentia verbis, Dic quod, &c. sayeth, that it is neither by contrition of heart, nor confession of mouth, that sinnes are for-given; but onelie by the free grace of God: but the contrition of the heart, is a signe in-deed, that our sinnes are for-given, as exter∣nall pennance is a signe of the contri∣tion of the heart, (say they:) which contrition, even free grace preceedeth.