Of the redemption of mankind three bookes wherein the controuersie of the vniuersalitie of redemption and grace by Christ, and of his death for all men, is largely handled. Hereunto is annexed a treatise of Gods predestination in one booke. Written in Latin by Iacob Kimedoncius D. and professor of Diuinitie at Heidelberge, and translated into English by Hugh Ince preacher of the word of God.

CHAP. VI. The vse of the former doctrine for the confutation of certaine errors.

BY the doctrine alreadie expounded,* 1.1 those men are confu∣ted which haue denied the trueth of mans substance in Christ, as Eutyches, Apollianaris, Manichaeus, Marcion, and other old Heretikes, and at this day certaine Anabaptists, who haue wallowed in the vngodly errors of old Heretikes. Pope Leo vrging these men saith: Let them speake, with what sa∣crifice they are reconciled, let them speake, with what blood they are redeemed: who is he that hath giuen himselfe an ob∣lation

to God,* 1.2 and a sacrifice of a sweete sauour? Furthermore by this same doctrine the Papists are refelled, who ioyne the sufferings of the Saints to the passions of Christ, and thereof haue confusedly made their fained treasure of pardons. Nei∣ther are they ashamed to boast of the superfluitie of merits, and humane satisfactions, that the Saints haue suffered more then they ought for their sinnes: and heaping one error vpon another, haue fained that this their superabundance pertai∣neth not only to the quick, but also to the dead in purgatorie. This is a meere mockerie of Satan, and a prophanation of the blood of Christ, as Pope Leo notably sheweth in the forena∣med Epistles against the Papists of these times: whose words are these:* 1.3 Albeit (saith he) the death of many Saints hath been precious in the sight of God, yet the slaying of no guiltles per∣son hath been the propitiation of the world. The righteous haue receiued, they haue not giuen crownes: and from the fortitude of the faithfull examples of patience haue sprong and not gifts of righteousnes. For there were peculiar deaths in euery one: neither hath any man by his end paied the debt of another, see∣ing among the sonnes of men there hath been one alone our Lord Iesus Christ, in whom all are crucified, all are dead, all are buried, and all are also raised vp againe. And before Leo, Pope Gaius of the countrie of Dalmatia being in that Sea a∣bout the yeare of our Lord 284. wrote the same thing ele∣gantly vnto Bishop Felix, the doctrine of which ancient Bi∣shops I would to God the Romane Church had kept inuio∣lablie.

* 1.4Vpon the same point Augustine writeth in his 84. treatise vpon Iohn: Albeit we brethren die one for another, yet the blood of no martyr is shed for the remission of sinnes, which Christ did for vs, and bestowed it not vpon vs, that wee should imitate it, but that we should be thankefull for it. The trifling Pardoners, or more truly sacrilegious deceiuers, obiect the words of the Apostle to the Colossians:* 1.5 I reioyce in those things which I suffer for you, and I fulfill the rest of the affli∣ctions of Christ in my flesh for his bodie, which is the Church. But the true sense of that place they might haue learned euen

of Aquinas, who part. 3. of his Summae quaest. 48. artic. penult. disputing, that only Christ is our redemption, obiecteth this place, and thus expoundeth it: The sufferings of the Saints profit the Church, not by way of redemption, but by way of ex∣ample and exhortation: according to that, 2. Cor. 1. Whether we be afflicted, it is for your exhortation and saluation. Which is very well, sauing that for exhortation a man may better translate the Greeke word, Consolation.* 1.6 And in that the affli∣ctions of the Saints are called the rest of the afflictiōs of Christ, he doth not meane, that the passion of Christ was vnperfect, (farre off be such blasphemie) but therefore that is spoken, because Christ suffereth daily as yet in his members, but to a farre diuerse end and after another maner. But those men are not ashamed (such is their wickednesse) to bragge of the su∣perabundance, as I said, of humane merits and satisfactions,* 1.7 which redoundeth to the quicke and dead. What? doth not the Scripture plainly testifie, that the things which wee suffer in this present life, are not equall to the glorie that shall bee shewed in the sonnes of God? What, that none can redeeme his brother, nor giue the price of his raunsome to God. For the redemption of the soule is precious,* 1.8 as the Psalmist sing∣eth. Vpon which place Basil in his gloses noteth,* 1.9 that the whole world is not the price of a soule. And tom. 1. vpon the same Psalme, saith: Man hath no abilitie at all to offer a re∣conciliation to God for a sinner, because he himselfe is guiltie of sinne. For all haue sinned and are depriued of the glorie of God; and are iustified freely by the redemption which is in Christ Iesu. Therefore no man can giue his owne appeasement, and the price of his soule to God; neither ought to seeke his brother to redeeme him, but one, who surpasseth our nature, that is, not man only, but the man God, Iesus Christ, who alone is able to giue himselfe to be a reconciliation to God for vs all. These things he.

Therefore all men must hope in him alone,* 1.10 who onely is the Mediatour of God and man, the redemption, propitia∣tion, and saluation of all men. Let our heart say vnto him: I will loue thee O Lord my strength, my rocke, my tower, my de∣liuerer,

my shield, and the horne of my saluation. I will trust in thee, and I shall neuer be ashamed. Hauing an high priest (saith the Apostle to the Hebrewes) which is mercifull,* 1.11 and faithfull in things concerning God, to make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people, euen Iesus the sonne of God, let vs goe with confi∣dence to the throne of grace, that we may obtaine mercie. Let vs goe in a true heart and certaine perswasion of faith,* 1.12 hauing libertie to enter into the Sanctuarie, by the blood of Iesu by the new and liuing way which he hath prepared for vs, through the vaile, that is, his flesh. There is no cause, there is no cause I say, why we should doubt to goe by him vnto God. If wee haue committed grieuous things, we haue found a worthie Phisition, wee receiue the soueraigne medicine of his grace. And not that onely, but also we trust, that he which hath not spared his owne sonne,* 1.13 but giuen him for vs all, will also with him bestow vpon vs all things.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Heretikes de∣nying Christ to be true man, are confuted by the former doctrine. Leo epist. 85, & 97.
• * 1.2

  So are the po∣pish merits of Saints, & these pa••ker of par∣dons the upon brought in, wherby Christs merits are pro∣phaned.
• * 1.3

  A notable say∣ing of Pope Leo against the merito∣rious suffrings of Saints.
• * 1.4

  A saying of Augustine to the same end.
• * 1.5

  Colos. 1.24. Scripture abu∣sed by popish pardoners.
• * 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.7

  Our sufferings are not meri∣torious. Rom. 8.18.
• * 1.8

  Psalm. 49.8.9.
• * 1.9

  Basils sayings thereof wor∣thie remem∣brance.
• * 1.10

  We must then rest vpō Christ alone for re∣demption, pro∣pitiation, and saluation.
• * 1.11

  Chap. 2. & 4.
• * 1.12

  Chap. 10.19.20.22.
• * 1.13

  Rom. 8.32.