Theologicall questions, dogmaticall observations, and evangelicall essays, vpon the Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Wherein, about two thousand six hundred and fifty necessary, and profitable questions are discussed; and five hundred and eighty speciall points of doctrine noted; and five hundred and fifty errours confuted, or objections answered: together with divers arguments, whereby divers truths, and true tenents are confirmed. By Richard VVard, sometimes student in the famous vniversities of Cambridge in England: St. Andrews in Scotland: and Master of Arts of both the kingdoms; and now a preacher in the famous city of London.

VERS. 24. Yee blind guides, [Vers. 24] which straine at at a gnat, and swallow a Camell.

Bellarmine (Lib. 2. Cap. 1. de Peccato) pro∣duceth this place for the proofe of Veniall sinnes; [Object] reasoning thus: Some sinnes are compared to things which are most light in their owne nature, and some to things most heavy: Some compared here to Gnats, and some to Camels; and Luke. 6. some to motes, some to beames; and therefore some are veniall, some mortall.

First, these are proverbiall speeches, and there∣fore [Answ. 1] are not to bee extended beyond the scope of CHRIST.

Secondly, that which is a gnat or a mote com∣paratively, [Answ. 2] may be a great mountaine positively, hence the earth is great, and large absolutely, but in comparision of the heavens it is but like a point. And therefore this followes not, some sinnes are small in comparison of others, therefore they are so small and veniall in their owne nature, that they doe not deserve eternall condemnation. Bel∣larmine himselfe (I know) would confesse if he were alive, that simple fornication were but a small sinne, in comparison of poysoning, and murde∣ring, the Pope, and Cardinals, and Clergie of Rome, and burning to ashes the whole Citie: but from hence to conclude, that therefore fornication is a veniall sinne, were

I. To fall into a heathenist errour (Non est flagitium, juvenem fornicari) who thought that for a young man to commit fornication with a single woman, was a pardonable offence.

II. This were to contradict, and oppose the Apostle Paul even in the very termes; who distin∣guisheth, and distinctly nameth Adultery and Fornication, and positively affirmeth, that not onely the Adulterer, but also the fornicator, shall never enter into the Kingdome of heaven, 1 Cor. 6.9, 13.

[Answ. 4] Fourthly, in good workes there is such a diffe∣rence of degrees, betweene the greatest and the least, as there is in sinnes: now the Papists say that y^e least good workes merit eternall life as well as the greatest, and therefore not a mote, but a beame is in their eye, who cannot see the least sinnes true∣ly to merit eternall death.